“Dick’s bed,” she muttered, and the woman put down her book and got up. Ella looked at her, puzzled. Why did she wear those white bands about her hair, and that butcher-blue wrapper and the white cuffs? She was a nurse, of course. Satisfied with having solved that problem, Ella closed her eyes and went back again into the land of dreams. She woke again. The woman was still there, but this time the girl’s mind was in order. “What time is it?” she asked. The nurse came over with a glass of water, and Ella drank greedily. “It is seven o’clock,” she said. “Seven!” The girl shivered, and then, with a cry, tried to rise. “It is evening!” she gasped. “Oh, what happened?” “Your father is downstairs, miss,” said the nurse. “I’ll call him.” “Father—here?” She frowned. “Is there any other news?” “Mr. Gordon is downstairs too, miss, and Mr. Johnson.” The woman was faithfully carrying out the instructions which had been given to her. “Nobody—else?” asked Ella in a whisper. “No, miss, the other gentleman is coming to-morrow or the next day—your brother, I mean.” With a sob the girl buried her face in the pillow. “You are not telling the truth!” “Oh yes, I am,” said the woman, and there was something in her laugh which made Ella look up. The nurse went out of the room and was gone a little while. Presently the door opened, and John Bennett came in. Instantly she was in his arms, sobbing her joy. “It is true, it is true, daddy?” “Yes, my love, it is true,” said Bennett. “Ray will be here to-morrow. There are some formalities to be gone through; they can’t secure a release immediately, as they do in story-books. We are discussing his future. Oh, my girl, my poor girl!” “When did you know, daddy?” “I knew this morning,” said her father quietly. “Were you—were you dreadfully hurt?” she asked. He nodded. “Johnson wants to give Ray the management of Maitlands Consolidated,” he said. “It would be a splendid thing for Ray. Ella, our boy has changed.” “Have you seen him?” she asked in surprise. “Yes, I saw him this morning.” She thought it was natural that her father should have seen him, and did not question him as to how he managed to get behind the jealously guarded doors of the prison. “I don’t think Ray will accept Johnson’s offer,” he said. “If I know him as he is now, I am sure he will not accept. He will not take any ready-made position; he wants to work for himself. He is coming back to us, Ella.” She wanted to ask him something, but feared to hurt him. “Daddy, when Ray comes back,” she said after a long silence, “will it be possible for you to leave this—this work you hate so much?” “I have left it, dear,” he replied quietly. “Never again—never again—never again, thank God!” She did not see his face, but she felt the tremor that passed through the frame of the man who held her.