“You had better come in and say good-by to Mrs. Pelham,” she said then. Nurse Ives entered the room. A moment later she stood by the sick-bed. Mrs. Pelham, with her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright, a strained, piteous expression round her trembling mouth, looked up at the nurse. “Is that you, Nurse Ives?” she said. “Yes, madam.” “I am sorry you are going to leave me. I like to feel that the one who has been with my darling at the last is now with me.” “For some reasons I am sorry to go, madam, but it is impossible for me to stay. I will wish you good-by now. Nurse Hester will do all she can for you—will you not, Nurse Hester?” The strange nurse nodded but did not trouble herself to speak. She did not like Nurse Ives, and she was not going to conceal the fact. Mrs. Pelham held out her trembling hand. “Good-by,” she said. The nurse turned and left the room. Barbara followed her on to the landing. “I shall go in a couple of hours,” said the nurse. “I am only waiting to see Dr. Tarbot and to pack one or two of my things. Ah, I think I hear the doctor’s step on the stairs.” The woman stood in the shadow, and the doctor, without seeing her, entered the sick-room. He stayed there for a few moments and then came out again, Barbara accompanying him. “Is that you, nurse?” he said. “Yes, sir. I have waited to speak to you. I should like to say a word before I go.” “All right, I can attend to you now. Good night, Miss Evershed. I hope you will go to bed and have a good sleep. Nurse Hester can look after the patient. There is nothing to be alarmed about in her condition—she is suffering from shock and fever. These symptoms will soon pass off.” Barbara reentered the room, and Nurse Ives and Dr. Tarbot walked down the passage together. “So you have quite made up your mind to go?” he said to her. “Yes, I leave to-night. I thought I ought to tell you that I had the coffin screwed up.” “Indeed! Is that not rather soon?” “Unmistakable signs of mortification have already set in.” “Then in that case you did right.” “I thought you ought to know,” said the nurse, dropping her eyes. “Certainly. You acted with discretion. It would never do, were such the case, for Miss Evershed to be bending over the child’s body. Girls have so much false sentiment in a thing of that kind. The poor little fellow is now far beyond the reach of any sympathy which earth can give him.” “That is what I thought, doctor. Well, I shall leave to-night.” “Shall I order a cab for you?” “No, thank you; I will go out later on and see to that myself.” “Very well, nurse. Good-by. I shall find you at your old quarters, eh?” “Yes.” “You will not undertake a new case at present?” “I shall never undertake a new case; you understand our compact?” “I am not likely to forget. I will call to see you to-morrow evening.”