And so the nurse came, but could give her little comfort. Gentian dressed and came downstairs, then set to work to keep things going as usual in the small household. She sent a note to Miss Buchan telling her what had happened. And then she waited patiently for the doctor's visit, hoping vainly that he would give her better news. CHAPTER X LEFT ALONE IT was a sunny morning towards the end of February. The garden was gay with spring bulbs, and Gentian stood looking out of the window upon the bright scene in front of her with wistful lips and sad eyes. Her bright colour had faded, her face was white and rather strained. She seemed to be years older, and yet it was barely two months since Miss Ward had been first taken ill. For those two months Gentian and a nurse had hardly left the invalid's room. Mrs. Wharnecliffe had been in and out, and wanted Gentian to come and stay with her for a little rest, but she firmly refused to leave the house even for one evening, and every one was surprised to see the merry, volatile girl, turn into the thoughtful, patient nurse. Gentian made many mistakes at first, and was rather rebellious and impatient when she found her earnest prayers for her dear Waddy were not going to be answered in the way she wished. For a few weeks it seemed that Miss Ward would recover; then she had another seizure, and gradually became unconscious again. It was a terrible time for poor Gentian when she was told by the doctor that there was no longer any hope of recovery. But she remained steadfastly at her post, tried not to think of the future, and gave up her whole heart and strength to minister to her friend's needs. Just before Miss Ward passed away, she seemed to have a phase of consciousness. Gentian bent over her lovingly. "Waddy, darling, I'm here." The sick woman smiled, pointed upwards, and said, with a little effort, "Home!" Then her eyes closed, and a few moments after, her spirit had left her tired body and had reached its "Home." Gentian was at first like one stunned. Mrs. Wharnecliffe swept down upon her again, but she would not leave the little house till her friend was laid to rest in the peaceful churchyard close by, and she insisted upon presiding at the organ and playing the "Dead March" when all was over. Then Mrs. Wharnecliffe was allowed to have her way, and Gentian accompanied her home and stayed there for a few days. But she seemed as if she could not rest. "I would rather go home," she told her hostess; "there is a good deal I must do." "My dear child, you cannot continue to live there alone. I wish Thorold was here; it is most unfortunate that he should be abroad. I have written to him, and I know he will come as soon as his young brother is quite convalescent. He always has been the slave of those boys." "Godwin has been very ill," said Gentian rebukingly; "when his ship left him at the hospital in Gibraltar, they did not think he would live."