Out in the ward the men were laughing and talking. Sanderson, robbed of his baccy-pouch, was sullen and resentful and the men were chaffing him. Aunt Jane drifted through the swing-door at the end of the ward. She placed the cup and plate on a dumb-waiter and crossed the hall to the Women's Ward. A nurse met her as she came in the door. "Mrs. Crosby is worse. Temperature a hundred and four," she said in a low voice. Aunt Jane nodded. She went slowly down the ward. White faces on the pillows greeted her and followed her. Aunt Jane beamed on them. She stopped beside a young girl and bent over to speak to her. The girl's face lighted. It lost its fretted look. Aunt Jane had told her that she was to have a chop for her dinner if she was a good girl, and that there was a robin out in the apple-tree. She turned her gaunt eyes toward the window. Her face listened. Aunt Jane went on.... A nurse coming in handed her a slip of paper. She glanced at it and tucked it into her dress. It was a telephone message from Dr. Carmon, asking to have the operating-room ready for an appendicitis case in ten minutes. The girl with the gaunt eyes called to her: "Aunt Jane!" The voice was weak and impatient. Aunt Jane turned slowly back. She stood by the bed, looking down with a smile. The girl thrust an impatient hand under her cheek: "Can I hear him in here?" she demanded. Aunt Jane glanced toward the window. "The robin? Like enough, if he flies this way. I'll go out and chase him 'round by and by when I get time." The girl laughed--a low, pleased laugh. Aunt Jane's tone had drawn a picture for her: The robin, the flying cap strings in swift pursuit, and all outdoors--birds and trees and sky. She nestled her face on her hand and smiled quietly. "I'm going to be good," she said. Aunt Jane looked at her with a severe twinkle. "Yes, you'll be good--till next time," she remarked. The nurse by the door waited, impatient. Aunt Jane came across the room. "Get 15 ready.... Find the new nurse," she said. "Send her to the operating-room.... Send Henry to the ambulance door.... Tell Miss Staunton to have things hot, and put out the new ether cones. It wants fresh carbolic and plenty of sponges." The nurse sped swiftly away. Aunt Jane looked peacefully around. She gave one or two instructions to the ward nurse, talked a moment with one of the patients, smiled a kind of general benediction on the beds and faces and sun-lit room, and went quietly out.... At the door of the operating-room she paused a moment and gave a slow, comfortable glance about. She changed the position of a stand and rearranged the ether cones. The next minute she was standing at the side door greeting Dr. Carmon. The ambulance was at the door. "It's a bad case," he said. "Waited too long." "Woman, I suppose," said Aunt Jane. She was watching the men as they put the trestles in place. He looked at her. "How did you know?"