he wanted.

In a few minutes Nancy Foster, passing by the door, looked up and saw
him watching her. She had become too well used to unfamiliar faces and
to messages at all hours and was too well protected to feel alarm.

"Oh! la! how you startled me," she cried. "What do you want? Dr.
Waters?"

"Hush!" he said, and beckoned to her to draw nearer. "I want to speak to
that lady yonder, only for a moment. Do you think she would come here?"
Harwin, for it was he, was a fine illustration of the proverb that he
who asks timidly, teaches denial. If he had demanded her mistress, Nancy
would have spoken to her at once. Now she scanned the intruder
curiously, and judged from the hesitation of his manner that his errand
was not urgent.

"No, she can't," she answered, with the decision wanting in the other.
"Don't you see how she's driven? And she's got to go away some time and
get a little rest. You'll have to come tomorrow."

"To-morrow!" he echoed drearily. Was it for this that he had come from
the fleet in the dispatch boat, and was braving all dangers? He took a
resolution from despair. He fell back until Nancy had gone and was again
intent upon her work.

At last he stepped forward noiselessly and began to make the half
circuit of the tent toward Elizabeth. Nancy, pre-occupied, passed by him
without speaking.

Elizabeth had sent for fresh water to moisten the lips of the dying
soldier whom she had told Archdale about. She had just filled her cup a
second time, and was on her way toward her especial charge for that
night, when Edmonson asked her for water. Ashamed of her impatience at
the simple request, she turned toward him, walking carefully with her
eyes upon her mug, not to waste a refreshment that had to be brought
from a distance. Suddenly, she found herself almost running against the
intruder. She looked up.

But the apology froze upon her lips. She retreated hastily several
steps, the water splashed unheeded over her trembling fingers. Edmonson,
who was always watching her, called to Nancy, "Your mistress, girl!
Quick!" and turned to look for her.

Nancy had gone to her patients in the next tent. But his voice helped
Elizabeth to recover herself. She stood firm again, but her rigid
expression did not change. With a bow, the intruder began:--

"May I venture--"

She interrupted him. "Do not speak to me, or stay here. Go!" She was
like marble, only that her eyes blazed. Her hand pointed toward the door