Lady Alice hesitated. The averted faces and puzzled, downcast--sometimes sullen--looks of the sick men and boys to whom she had of late given nothing but kind words, had grieved her sorely. "I suppose it proves the truth, in part, of what you say," she answered gently, "but on the other hand I find that my gifts have been judged excessive and unwise. It seems that I have a great deal to learn in the art of giving: it does not come by nature, as some suppose. I have consulted the doctors and nurses--and I have to thank you for giving me a warning." A look of surprise passed across the man's face. "You're better than some of them," he said, curtly. "I thought you'd never look at me again. I don't know why I should have interfered. But I did not like to see you cheated and laughed at." Lady Alice colored, but she felt no resentment against the man, although he had shown her that she had made herself ridiculous when she was bent on playing Lady Bountiful, and posing as an angel of light. She said after a moment's pause-- "I believe you meant kindly. Is there nothing that I can do for you?" He shook his head. "I don't think so--I can't remember very well. The doctors say I shall remember by and by. Then I shall know." "And if I can, you will let me help you?" "I suppose I ought to be only too glad," said the patient, with a sort of sullenness, which Lady Alice felt that she could but dimly understand. "I suppose I'm the sort of man to _be_ helped; and yet I can't help fancying there's a--Past--a Past behind me--a life in which I once was proud of my independence. But it strikes me that this was very long ago." He drew the bedclothes over his head again, and made no further reply. Lady Alice came to see him after this conversation as often as the rules of the hospital would allow her; and, although she seemed to get little response from him, the fact really remained that she was establishing an ascendancy over the man such as no nurse or doctor in the place had yet maintained. Others noticed it beside herself; but she, disheartened a little by her disappointment in some of the other patients, did not recognize the reality of his attachment to her. And an event occurred about the time which put John Smith and hospital matters out of her head for a considerable time to come.