"Of course I should, but it's so much more agreeable to help than to be helped. It's ignoble, I suppose, but I do hate to feel grateful!" "Well! No one could by any possibility call you _gracious_, my dear. Is that any consolation?" cried Claire mischievously, and Sophie was surprised into the travesty of a smile. Dr Blank was at home, and listened to what Sophie had to tell him with grave attention. He expressed satisfaction to hear that her holidays had begun, but when questioned as to his probable report to Miss Farnborough, had no consolation to offer. "I am afraid I must tell you honestly that you are not fit for the work. Of course, it is quite possible that there may be a great improvement by September, but, even so, you would be retarding your recovery by going on with such exhausting work. You must try to find something lighter." Sophie laughed, and her laugh was not good to hear. Claire said firmly-- "She _shall_ find it! I will find it for her. There's no need to worry about September. What we want to know is what she is to do _now_?--to- morrow--for the rest of the holidays?" "I can't afford any more injections! They've done me no good, and they cost too much. I can't afford any more treatments. I can only take medicines. If you will give me some medicines--" Dr Blank sat silent; tapping his desk with noiseless fingers; staring thoughtfully across the room. It was evident that he had a proposition to make; evident also that he doubted its reception. "The best thing under the circumstances--the wisest thing," he said slowly at last, "would be for you to go into hospital as an ordinary patient. I could get you a bed in one of my own wards, where I could look after you myself, in consultation with the first men in town. You could have massage, electricity, radium, heat baths, every appliance that could possibly be of use, and you could stay on long enough to give them a chance. It would be an ordinary ward, remember, an ordinary bed in an ordinary ward, and your neighbours would not be up to Newnham standard! You would be awakened at five in the morning, and settled for the night at eight. You would have to obey rules, which would seem to you unnecessary and tiresome. You would be, I am afraid, profoundly bored. On the other hand, you would have every attention that skill and science can devise. You would not have to pay a penny, and you would have a better chance than a duchess in a ducal palace. Think it over, and let me know! If you decide to go, I'll manage the rest. Take a day--a couple of days." "I won't take two minutes, thank you! I'll decide now. I'll go, of course, and thank you very much!" Dr Blank beamed with satisfaction.