Ralph heard the sound of sobbing as he passed on his way to bed, and a quiet, unhappy voice speaking very low, breaking off and then speaking again. He hesitated a moment, wondering if he should go in, but shook his head, and sighing, went on to his own room, closing the door noiselessly after him. 3 Two days later Joan was waiting in the matron's sitting-room at Alexandra House. Someone had told her that Miss Jackson wished to speak to her before she went up to her sister. She remembered that Miss Jackson was Milly's "Old Scout," and smiled in spite of herself. The door opened and Miss Jackson came in. She held out her hand with an exaggeratedly bright smile. "Miss Ogden?" Joan thought: "She's terribly nervous of what she has to tell me." "Do sit down, Miss Ogden, _please_. I hope you had a good journey?" "Yes, thank you." The matron looked at her watch. "Your train must have been unusually punctual; I always think the trains are so very bad on that line. However, you've been fortunate." "Yes, we were only five minutes late." "You don't find it stuffy in here, do you? I cannot persuade the maids to leave the window open." "No, I don't feel hot--I think you wanted to speak to me about Milly." "Milly; oh, yes--I thought--the doctor wanted me to tell you----" "That my sister is in consumption? I was afraid it was so, from your letter." Miss Jackson moistened her lips. "Oh, my dear, I hope my letter was not too abrupt! You mustn't run ahead of trouble; our doctor is nervous about future possibilities if great care is not used--but your sister's lungs are sound so far, he _thinks_." "Then I disagree with him," said Joan. Miss Jackson felt a little shocked. Evidently this was a very sensible young woman, not to say almost heartless; still it was better than if she had broken down. "We all hope, we all believe, that Milly will soon be quite well again," she said, "but, as you know, I expect, she's rather frail. I should think that she must always have been delicate; and yet what a student! A wonderful student; they're all heart-broken at the College." There was real feeling in her voice as she continued: "I can't tell you what an admiration I have for your sister; her pluck is phenomenal; she's worked steadily, overworked in fact, up to the last." Joan got up; she felt a little giddy and put her hand on the back of the chair to steady herself. "My dear, wait, I must get you some sal-volatile!" "Oh, no, no, please not; I really don't feel ill. I should like to go to Milly now and help her to collect her luggage, if I may." "Of course; come with me." They mounted interminable stairs to the rooms that Milly shared with Harriet. A sound of laughing reached them through the half-open door. It was Milly's laugh. "She's very brave and cheerful, poor child," Miss Jackson whispered. Joan followed her into the study. "Here's your sister, Milly dear."