least Miss Winwood will; the Colonel's not at home."

She lifted his head gently and smoothed his pillows, and ordained
silence. Presently the doctor came, and spoke kindly. "You've had a
narrow shave, my friend, and you're not out of the wood yet," said
he. "And you'll have to go slow and take things for granted for some
time."

Then came Miss Winwood, whom he recognized as the puzzling but
pleasant nurse out of uniform.

"I don't know how to thank you for taking me in, a stranger, like
this," said Paul.

She smiled. "It's Providence, not me, that you must thank. You might
have been taken ill by the roadside far away from anybody.
Providence guided you here."

"Providence or Destiny," murmured Paul, closing his eyes. It was
absurd to feel so weak.

"That's a theological question on which we won't enter," laughed
Miss Winwood. "Anyhow, thank God, you're better."

A little later she came to him again. "I've been so anxious about
your people--you see, we've had no means of communicating with
them."

"My people?" asked Paul, surprised.