And yet, when it had drawn to an end, the nurse thought that it would count in her life as important beyond most others, for it was between ten and eleven that she made up her mind to marry the rich man who wanted her for his wife, and whom she did not love. The resolution once determined, she let her mind play about the possibilities of the future. She would not be married till the spring, of course, and they would go to Europe for their wedding-trip. Then, in the fall, she would persuade him to move to New York. He was fond of his own town, but he would get used to the city in time; and they could buy a new house, overlooking Central Park--perhaps in the same neighborhood as the one where she was sitting in the hazy light of the sick-room. She smiled unconsciously as she found herself wondering whether her patient's beautiful young wife would call on her if she purchased the house next door. It was a little after eleven o'clock when she again heard a rustling of silken stuffs in the room by the side of hers, followed shortly by the voice of the servant in the street below calling the carriages of the departing guests. But some of the diners still lingered, for it was nearly half an hour later before the door of the sick-room opened and the sick man's wife came gliding in again with her languorous grace. He fixed his eyes upon her at once, and smiled with contentment as she came towards him. "You've been asleep, haven't you?" she began. "I'm so glad, for of course that's so good for you. We all missed you down-stairs, and everybody asked about you and said they were _so_ sorry you were not there. You must hurry up and get well; and I'll give another dinner like this, for it was a _great_ success. The flowers were superb--and I don't think any of the women had a handsomer gown than I did. And I know all of them together hadn't as elegant diamonds. I don't believe _anybody_ at the dance will have as many either." "Sit down by me here and tell me all about the dinner," said the sick husband. "Oh, I can't wait now," the young wife answered. "I _must_ be off at once. I've simply _got_ to be there in time to see the old year out and the new year in. They say Mrs. Jimmy has a surprise for us, and nobody at dinner had the slightest idea what it _could_ possibly be!" "Are you going to the dance to-night?" asked the man in the bed; and the nurse saw the pleading look in his eyes, even if his wife failed to perceive it. "Of course I am," was the wife's reply. "I wouldn't miss it for _anything_. I think it's a lovely idea to have a dance on New-Year's Eve, don't you? I _do_ wish you were well enough to go, and I'm certain sure Mrs. Jimmy will ask about you--she's always _so_ polite. You won't miss me--you will be asleep again in five minutes, won't you?" "Perhaps," he answered, still clinging to her fingers. "I'll try to sleep."