The Christmas morning had brought Sidney half a dozen gifts. K. sent her a silver thermometer case with her monogram, Christine a toilet mirror. But the gift of gifts, over which Sidney's eyes had glowed, was a great box of roses marked in Dr. Max's copper-plate writing, “From a neighbor.” Tucked in the soft folds of her kerchief was one of the roses that afternoon. Services over, the nurses filed out. Max was waiting for Sidney in the corridor. “Merry Christmas!” he said, and held out his hand. “Merry Christmas!” she said. “You see!”--she glanced down to the rose she wore. “The others make the most splendid bit of color in the ward.” “But they were for you!” “They are not any the less mine because I am letting other people have a chance to enjoy them.” Under all his gayety he was curiously diffident with her. All the pretty speeches he would have made to Carlotta under the circumstances died before her frank glance. There were many things he wanted to say to her. He wanted to tell her that he was sorry her mother had died; that the Street was empty without her; that he looked forward to these daily meetings with her as a holy man to his hour before his saint. What he really said was to inquire politely whether she had had her Christmas dinner. Sidney eyed him, half amused, half hurt. “What have I done, Max? Is it bad for discipline for us to be good friends?” “Damn discipline!” said the pride of the staff. Carlotta was watching them from the chapel. Something in her eyes roused the devil of mischief that always slumbered in him. “My car's been stalled in a snowdrift downtown since early this morning, and I have Ed's Peggy in a sleigh. Put on your things and come for a ride.” He hoped Carlotta could hear what he said; to be certain of it, he maliciously raised his voice a trifle. “Just a little run,” he urged. “Put on your warmest things.” Sidney protested. She was to be free that afternoon until six o'clock; but she had promised to go home. “K. is alone.” “K. can sit with Christine. Ten to one, he's with her now.” The temptation was very strong. She had been working hard all day. The heavy odor of the hospital, mingled with the scent of pine and evergreen in the chapel; made her dizzy. The fresh outdoors called her. And, besides, if K. were with Christine-- “It's forbidden, isn't it?” “I believe it is.” He smiled at her. “And yet, you continue to tempt me and expect me to yield!” “One of the most delightful things about temptation is yielding now and then.” After all, the situation seemed absurd. Here was her old friend and neighbor asking to take her out for a daylight ride. The swift rebellion of youth against authority surged up in Sidney. “Very well; I'll go.”