He smiled faintly--and the nurse came to the rescue. She looked at Mrs. Lorraine meaningly. Stephanie nodded. "Your nurse intimates that it is time for me to go," she remarked. "And the nurse is in command." She reached down and took his hand. "Good bye!" she said. "You will come again!" he questioned. "Certainly, whenever you wish--and the nurse lets me." He smiled--and she, with an answering smile, went quietly out. He closed his eyes and lay quite still. The nurse came to the bed; played with gentle fingers a moment upon his wrist, and went softly away. It was pretty hopeless, he reflected, pretty hopeless! Stephanie cared no more for him than for an utter stranger--probably less. She had come in response to his request, but she had let him know that it was because he had asked for her and not of her own volition. And when she did come, the talk had been the veriest of inanities; and the nurse had remained in the room the entire time--at Stephanie's behest he had little doubt. Her "whenever you wish," had really meant, "but don't wish".... He did not see why she had taken the trouble to come at all, since he was nothing to her--why she had not simply answered that she would not come, that she no longer recognized any obligation toward him. Everyone knew the facts of the last two years so why should she not be candid, even brutally so? This visit was nothing--nothing but ashes to them both--nothing but the proof that the rupture was beyond repair. And he loved her still!--loved her as in the days of courtship, though it had been obscured by the hate and injury of the recent past. If he could not affect her now, even so far as to win a look of regard, his case was forlorn. If his condition would not melt even a little the ice of her reserve, there was small hope. But he _would_ hope!--_would_ hope! It was not her fault--it was Amherst's. He acquitted her--she was a wronged woman--he was a wronged husband! Amherst was the villain! Amherst was---- There was a light touch on his shoulder. He opened his eyes--the nurse was standing beside him, a glass of orange juice in her hand, a smile on her face. "It is time to take your nourishment," she said. For a moment he was tempted to refuse--but she smiled again, very sweetly; and put the glass to his lips. "Now, try to relax and sleep a while," she suggested. "Is that an order?" he said faintly. "An order," she answered, dropping her hand on his forehead and smoothing it with deft touch. He smiled up at her,--and closed his eyes--and presently he slept. * * * * * * * Stephanie, when she left the Hospital, went on to the shopping district.