BY H. MARY WILSON, Author of "In Warwick Ward," "In Monmouth Ward," "Miss Elsie," etc. CHAPTER I. "We'll keep our aims sublime, our eyes erect, Although our woman-hands should shake and fail."--_E. B. Browning._ Sister Warwick was slowly rousing to the consciousness of the birth of another working-day. Her first sensation was weariness, her next a thought of surprise that the night had been passed without a summons to the side of one of the many beds in her ward, the third, and this with fully-awakened faculties, that her good Staff-nurse Carden was holding towards her the welcome tea-tray that her kind thoughtfulness never failed to bring with this earliest report of the "night duty." Margaret Carden's hospital career had fulfilled the expectations of those who had watched it with loving, interested eyes. She had quietly and conscientiously worked her way from her probation through the three years of training, had done well, if not brilliantly, in her exams., and was now back again in the ward that was her "first love," so to speak. She was a staff-nurse on night duty. She was very happy to be here. She loved little Sister Warwick--loved and respected and reverenced her. She could see through the brusque exterior that nettled some of the others, and could fully appreciate the noble heroism of her consistent, hard-working, unselfish life. Sister Warwick was one who always felt the full responsibility of the life she had to live. Seven years before, after the governors of the hospital had offered her the coveted position of Sister of one of these hospital wards, she had written to her mother-- "It is very trying work beginning to be a Sister--more so than you can possibly imagine. To feel the whole weight of your domain weighing on you, a family of thirty to care for, and nurses to guide and train, is very appalling, very full of care." And now, though she was used to her position, if experience was teaching her the wisest way to carry her cares, custom did not lighten them. To-day she greeted her friend Carden with a smile and a "Good morning! What sort of a night have you had in the ward?" "All has gone comfortably, Sister, except that Susie and Patty have both been troublesome again." "Susie fretting for her mother, and Patty crying with the pain?" "Yes, Sister, and really disturbing the others by being very noisy, poor mites." "Perhaps there is some naughtiness in their crying. We must think what we can do. And Mrs. 13?" "She is distinctly weaker, but she says the pain is less. How patient she is!"