,
and for Judith Blount, also, who presently joined them.

"Edwin is much better," she informed them.

"He is seeing people now, isn't he?" asked Judith eagerly.

Miss Fern stiffened.

"No," she answered, "only me--and his brother and sister, of course."
She added this as an afterthought. "It will be many weeks before he is
allowed to see any of the Wellington people. The doctor is particularly
anxious for him not to be reminded of his work. Excitement would be very
dangerous for him."

"Is that what the doctor says or is it your verdict, Alice?" put in
Judith, who had small liking for the Professor's cousin on the other
side of the family.

"I'm in entire authority here," answered Miss Fern in such a hostile
tone that Molly felt as if they had been accused of forcing their way
into the sick room. "I am nursing during the day in conjunction with the
infirmary nurse."

"Why don't you wear a cap, Alice?" asked Judith tauntingly. "It would
make you look more like the real thing."

With a hurried excuse, Molly hastened out of the hall. It went against
her grain to be involved in the quarrels of Alice Fern and Judith
Blount. She was walking rapidly toward the village when she heard
Judith's voice behind her calling.

"Wait, and I'll walk with you. I see you're going my way. I had to stay
and give a last dig to that catty Alice Fern," she added breathlessly,
catching up with Molly.

Molly smiled. She didn't know but that she agreed with Judith, but it
was not her way to call people "cats."

"I'm so glad you arranged to take the post-grad., Judith," she began as
they started down the avenue.

"Isn't it great?" answered Judith exultantly. "It's all Madeleine's
doing, you know. We've had a wonderful summer, Molly. Almost the first
summer I can remember when I wasn't bored."

"What have you two been up to?" Molly asked with some curiosity. The
cloak of enthusiasm was a new one for Judith to wear and it was very
becoming to her, Molly thought.

"We've been making money," Judith announced with sparkling eyes. "I've
made almost enough to carry me through another year here."

"Goodness," Molly thought, "how the world does change. Think of the
proud Judith working and then telling me about it, me whom she used to
detest!"

"It's been jolly fun, too, and I didn't mind the work a bit."

"I hope you made a great deal," remarked Molly, not liking to ask too
many questions but burning to know how money had been made