"My dear madam," the doctor was saying in a tone that betokened the limit of patience, "you really must leave the matter to my judgment, if we operate--" "But you won't unless it's the last resort?" pleaded the lady. "You know how frightfully sensitive to pain he is. But if you find out that you must, then I want you to promise me not to let him suffer afterward. You must keep him under the influence of opiates, and you will wait until his father can get here, won't you?" "But that's the trouble. You've waited too long already. Appendicitis is not a thing to take liberties with." "You don't mean it's too late? You don't think--" "We don't think anything at present. We hope everything." Then spying Nance, he turned toward her with relief. "This is the nurse who will take charge of the case." The perturbed lady uncovered one eye. "You are sure she is one of your very best?" "One of our best," said the doctor, as he and Nance exchanged a quizzical smile. "Let her go in to him now. I can't bear for him to be alone a second. As I was telling you--" Nance passed into the darkened room and closed the door softly. The patient was evidently asleep; so she tiptoed over to the window and slipped into a chair. On each side of the open space without stretched the vine-clad wings of the hospital, gray now under the starlight. Nance's eyes traveled reminiscently from floor to floor, from window to window. How many memories the old building held for her! Memories of heartaches and happiness, of bad times and good times, of bitter defeats and dearly won triumphs. It had been no easy task for a girl of her limited education and undisciplined nature to take the training course. But she had gallantly stood to her guns and out of seeming defeat, won a victory. For the first time in her diversified career she had worked in a congenial environment toward a fixed goal, and in a few weeks now she would be launching her own little boat on the professional main. Her eyes grew tender as she thought of leaving these protecting gray walls that had sheltered her for four long years; yet the adventure of the future was already calling. Where would her first case lead her? A cough from the bed brought her sharply back to the present. She went forward and stooped to adjust a pillow, and the patient opened his eyes, stared at her in bewilderment, then pulled himself up on his elbow. "Nance!" he cried incredulously. "Nance Molloy!" She started back in dismay. "Why, it's Mr. Mac! I didn't know! I thought I'd seen the lady before--no, please! Stop, they're coming! Please, Mr. Mac!" For the patient, heretofore too absorbed in his own affliction to note anything, was covering her imprisoned hands with kisses and calling on Heaven to witness that he was willing to undergo any number of operations if she would nurse him through them. Nance escaped from the room as Mrs. Clarke entered. With burning cheeks she rushed to Dr. Adair's office.