My poor Nanette! Her face, shriveled and scarred! She raised what seemed a twisted arm to welcome us. She tried to smile. A travesty--a mockery. I recalled her gentle beauty, her sweet womanly dignity--that little smile, so sweet, that she used to have. I leaned over her. "Nanette, darling!" "Edward, you came--I didn't want them to let you come--" I said: "Lea is here. Do you recognize her voice?" I bent over her as though with a great secret. "Nanette, she and Alan love each other. We're just waiting for you to get well--it won't be so long now. Then we're going home." "No," she murmured. "They say it won't be long now. And they say--" "San is here with the tower. But he stays always in it. That's why he hasn't been to see you." Oh, I had phrased it wrongly! She shuddered. "Edward--that time, you remember--when I said good-by over the aerial? I--I thought that it was--really good-by. You understand?" She was stammering. "I don't understand, Nanette." "I mean--I--I told you that I loved you. That was very wrong of me. I do not--I do not love you. I n-never did." She could not see the rush of moisture that clouded my eyes. I gulped, but I managed a laugh. "You can't get out of it that way. Of course you love me! I'll make you!" But she held me off. "No." From across the room the watching nurse said: "She should be kept quiet, Mr. Williams." I relaxed and sat back. "We'll forget it, Nanette--not talk about it now, because--" "Yes, forget it. They say, these surgeons--" "Nanette, listen--we're rich! You didn't know that. The city government here has awarded us--the four of us--and some for San--some of the Turber gold. In 1945, Nanette, what we four have will be accounted at nearly a million dollars." She was trying to speak, but I talked fast against it. "You've always wanted to live in the country, haven't you? So does Lea. We're going to buy--Alan and I are--two little homes--near each other, understand--out in the country somewhere in our world of 1945. Where there will be trees and flowers--and the beautiful sky over us." "Edward, I'd rather you went away. You understand? It's wonderful of you--your plans and all that." "Nanette, you're talking nonsense!" "All right. Perhaps I am. They say my hair can be made to grow long again very quickly, Edward." Her voice was trying to be jocular. "That will help, won't it? And yesterday a surgeon was here from Great London. A specialist in plastic surgery--" The nurse called: "Better go now, Mr. Williams. Not tire her." * * * * * There were more days of waiting.