upon him suddenly she was positively startled by the haggardness of his
look. But upon this also she made no comment. It seemed advisable to
avoid all personal matters in her dealings with him. She was aware that
he suffered no interference from Major Ralston whose time was in fact so
fully occupied at the hospital and elsewhere that he was little likely
to wish to add him to his sick list.

Tommy's recovery, however, was fairly rapid, and on the third night
after her arrival she was able to lie down in his room and rest between
her ministrations. Ralston professed himself well satisfied with his
progress in the morning, and she looked forward to imparting this
favourable report to Monck. But Monck did not make an appearance. She
watched for him almost unconsciously all through the day, but he did not
come. Tommy also watched for him, and finally concluded somewhat
discontentedly that he had gone on some mission regarding which he had
not deemed it advisable to inform them.

"He is like that," he told Stella, and for the first time he spoke
almost disparagingly of his hero. "So beastly discreet. He never thinks
any one can keep a secret besides himself."

"Ah well, never mind," Stella said. "We can do without him."

But Tommy had reached the stage when the smallest disappointment was a
serious matter. He fretted and grew feverish over his friend's absence.

When Major Ralston saw him that evening he rated him soundly, and even,
Stella thought, seemed inclined to blame her also for the set-back in
his patient's condition.