“That is the one weak point in my application, sir,” she said. “I have no reference—no recommendation to give you. I am alone in the world, and friendless—obliged to provide for my daily necessities. I came to you from the death-bed of the only relative I had in the world.” She caught her breath with a little sob at this, and the man’s heart was touched, “and what I have told you about my abilities as a nurse is strictly true. My personal character, I assure you, is above criticism;” this with a proud uplifting of her small head that carried conviction with it, and proved to her companion that she was no ordinary person, and would scorn to do anything that would serve to lower her in the estimation of others, or the esteem of herself; “But,” she added, “I have only my own word to prove all this to you, and if such proof is necessary, I can only give it to you by my daily deportment, during my term of ‘probation.’” It was a little out of order for him to receive a nurse under such circumstances; but the more he saw of her the more interested he became, and his curiosity to see and know more was excited. Then, too, there was a certain ward in the hospital that was sorely in need of nurses. He saw that she was intelligent, cool, and clear-headed, with more than ordinary reserve force and self-possession, and feeling confident that she was all she represented herself to be—though he had some doubt that she had given her real name—he determined to waive the strict letter of requirement, for once, and engage her without inquiry. He completed the entry in his register, and then told her that she might consider herself as engaged for a month upon trial; after which she could be booked, if she gave satisfaction, as a regular nurse. An expression of infinite relief swept over her face at this information—a look which seemed to betray a sense of rest and security, as if she suddenly felt that a safeguard from dreaded danger had been thrown around her. Her magnificent eyes lighted; more of energy and animation than she had yet shown took possession of her, while the smile with which she thanked the superintendent revealed two rows of the whitest and most perfect teeth that he had ever seen. “I hope she isn’t a coquette,” he mused with some anxiety, as he for the first time realized the full power of her beauty; “for if she is, she’ll be turning the heads of the male nurses and young doctors, and make no end of mischief for us.” But it was too late to retract now, and after settling a few more preliminaries and assigning her to the ward wherein she was to serve, he rose and told her to follow. He led her from the office building, through the spacious rounds of the hospital, to the main entrance, and thence to a ward in a large wing. Then calling the head nurse of that department, he introduced the novitiate and stated that she was prepared to enter upon her duties immediately. * * * * *