Miriam, in the act of preparing Mrs. Nash's medicine, did not answer. Going over to the bed she aroused the drowsy woman, helped her to a sitting position and held the medicine glass to her lips. Mrs. Nash drank slowly, and then settled back with a low sigh. Miriam busied herself about the bedroom for ten minutes before returning to the chair by the bed and found her patient regarding her steadfastly. "When did my husband get here?" she asked. "Around six o'clock yesterday afternoon," replied Miriam. "I do not remember." Mrs. Nash passed her hand before her eyes. "He came while I was unconscious--?" "Yes. Now, Mrs. Nash, don't talk--" "Was he with me all night?" Paying no attention to Miriam, she struggled up on her elbow as she put the question. "He was in and out of the room most of the night," Miriam bent over and adjusted the bedclothes. "Doctor Roberts was here also." Mrs. Nash was silent for some little time, her eyes roving about the big room, into which the daylight was stealing through the partly open windows; finally she gazed again at her nurse. "I wasn't so ill that I could not appreciate what you did for me," she said, and Miriam was surprised at the amount of feeling in her voice. "I shan't forget it, my dear." "Indeed, Mrs. Nash, you must not excite yourself," Miriam protested, coloring warmly at her praise. "Please lie down again and try to sleep." "How about you?" with a keen glance at her. "Have you had any sleep? Ah, I can see you haven't, so don't lie." The injunction slipped out with Mrs. Nash's customary abruptness and Miriam could not forbear a smile. Undoubtedly Mrs. Nash was recovering. "Go and lie down on that cot which I had Martha bring here yesterday afternoon for you. Don't be afraid"--with a fleeting smile--"I'll make my wants known." And considering the argument settled Mrs. Nash turned to a more comfortable position and closed her eyes. Without moving Miriam considered her in silence. It was only when she heard Mrs. Nash's regular breathing and realized that she had fallen into peaceful slumber that she walked over to the cot and, drawing back the heavy blanket, threw herself, dressed as she was, down upon it. Her head had hardly touched the pillow before she was sound asleep. An hour passed and she still slept on, totally unaware that some one had stealthily entered the room. Mrs. Nash stirred, opened her eyes and sat up. What was the noise which had awakened her? Her eyes darted about the room as she turned her head from side to side, and she bent this way and that to get a better view of each piece of furniture. A gentle snore from Miriam suggested a solution--had a louder snore aroused her? Mrs. Nash lay back among the pillows, but she did not close her eyes. It was close upon eight o'clock when Miriam awoke and, refreshed by her long nap, sprang up, to find Mrs. Nash's bright black eyes regarding her with an expression she could not fathom.