“Yes; and good-looking--not a girl in her teens, but a young woman. I should say, without meaning to be personal, about your age, Mrs. Morris.” It was plain that Mrs. Morris had almost superhuman control over her facial muscles--she did not beam on him! “I understand,” she said, in a quite human voice. This man was, after all, neither rude nor blind. “A woman--” “About thirty--or a little less,” said Jerningham. He looked at Mrs. Morris's face and nodded confirmatively. “Exactly,” said Mrs. Morris, genially. First impressions are so apt to be unfair! “I'll be more than satisfied with one of your age and good loo--and--er--appearance “--here the Morris smile irrepressibly made its début--“and also tactful. It is an unusual case. It will necessitate going to Europe.” “With the patient?” “For the patient,” said Jerningham, and waited. “If you will tell me a little bit more about the case--” said Mrs. Morris, encouragingly. She had just taken a good look at the pearl in the scarf of this delightful judge of ages--at the lowest estimation, five thousand dollars! “My--I--We have reason to believe that a--friend is ill in London. Kidneys. We wish her to take care of herself. She is a woman of fifty-odd. We want a nurse, refined, well-bred, good-looking, and competent--like yourself; so that she could be a companion and at home among wealthy people. You know what I mean.” He paused. “Perfectly, sir!” said Mrs. Morris, veraciously. Did she not know Mrs. Morris? “It would be nice to find such a nurse--and, if possible, also one to whom the fact that she is going to visit England, and possibly other countries, may be a sort of compensation for her sudden departure from New York. Of course she will be paid all her traveling and living expenses--first-class all through--and her regular honorarium. I believe it is thirty-five dollars a week. As I am leaving New York myself soon, I'll pay in advance, and will leave instructions with my bankers to honor any of your drafts, Mrs. Morris. It will be a good opportunity for the young lady to know London--and you know how attractive it is--and Paris!” “Yes, indeed,” acquiesced Mrs. Morris, suddenly looking like Baedeker. “The young lady--I am sorry you could not go in her place! Yes, I am!--will live at the same hotel with the patient and become acquainted with her--and advise her to see a physician regularly--a specialist in kidney diseases. We think her only daughter ought to be with her. But you can't say anything to either of them, because if the mother doesn't think she is ill the daughter cannot know it, either. We only suspect it is Bright's. You can't afford to wait until you have to go to bed with Bright's--can you?” “No, indeed!” gravely agreed Mrs. Morris, specialist. “So now you know what sort of a girl I wish--one who will be there if the trouble should take a sudden turn for the worse; one who will induce the old lady to consult a physician. Do I have to give a preliminary fee?”