I winced .sx There was something almost like a sneer in his tone .sx That was the chief thing that remained with me of this conversation , after he and Matron had gone out of the room together .sx I was under the doctor's contempt because Audrey had told him for fun that I was engaged to marry the Professor .sx In the silence of my solitary rest , I began to see a good many little things quite clearly , and I was sensitive enough to feel all too acutely the changed attitude towards me of this best of friends , whose extraordinary kindness had got me through that time of tragedy which led to my hospital career .sx I seemed doomed to be misunderstood by him .sx And the more fully I realised this , so much the more did I also realise how vitally important it was to me to be understood !sx I think it was during my little enforced rest in the staff room that I first acknowledged to my silly pro .sx 's heart that I had given it away without reserve , and cared for nobody on earth half so much as I had come to care for Dr. Vancey .sx " Yes , " said I , " I may as well face the truth .sx I am in love with Dr. Vancey .sx " It is a tremendous admission to make , even to one's own self .sx I closed my eyes , and went hack in thought to the time when I had first known him , from the moment when he , a stranger , had come to take me to the hospital where my parents lay after their fatal accident .sx How gently he had broken the news to me ; how tenderly he had supported me through the whole ordeal , bearing the brunt of it for me , and sparing me in every way possible .sx I contrasted that with the tone in which he had said just now , " Somebody else can take in the Professor's dinner , " and winced again .sx EXIT AUDREY .sx THAT evening Audrey distinguished herself signally , and Nurse Mitchell went and told Matron that she would not have her in the men's ward any longer .sx She said that if the operation case died , in consequence of the start Audrey gave him at a time when his life depended upon perfect quiet , she would not be a bit surprised .sx They had surrounded his bed with screens , and put him in the corner nearest to the fireplace so that he might be as quiet as it was possible to keep him in a public ward .sx Just now there was not a private ward vacant , or he would probably have been put into one , so important was it that he should be undisturbed .sx But all the other patients had united in keeping as still as they possibly could .sx They hardly spoke above a whisper ; even the boy with the broken leg muffled his face in his pillow to moan inaudibly .sx Poor lad , he was in a lot of pain , and had never before in his life shown self-restraint .sx Nurse Crawford went and told him that he was acting like a hero , and I dare say that was the greatest impulse he had ever received towards really becoming one .sx To keep Audrey out of the way , Nurse Mitchell had sent her into the bath-room to clean a lot of enamel ware .sx This the noisy pro .sx she had already got a name for being the most noisy girl they had ever had here had accomplished , after a fashion !sx They had thought it would take her a good hour ( as it would , had she done it thoroughly ) , so were not on the look-out for her when , ten minutes later , she returned with her arms full , at a run .sx And then the accident she had prophesied occurred .sx She slipped on the highly polished floor , slid along it , and was only stopped by crashing into the screens round the ex-Service man .sx These came down bang upon the fender , while Audrey dropped the enamel ware she was carrying .sx It went spinning in every direction while she fell on her back and screamed as her head bumped sharply on the floor .sx Between the crash of fire utensils , the loud rattle of Audrey's load , and the general hullabaloo , it was not much wonder that the patient , who had been sleeping profoundly , was awakened by the sort of start that might have killed him on the spot .sx And it was not much wonder that Nurse Mitchell refused to have Audrey in the ward any longer !sx Audrey came bouncing in upon me in a fury .sx " What do you think , Celia ?sx They've ordered me off into the children's ward .sx I'm not going .sx I won't .sx I hate children .sx I'm not a nursemaid , and I'm not going to be one .sx I won't go .sx I won't !sx " I caught her , and tried to hush her .sx " What have you done ?sx " I asked .sx " I came a cropper , but it wasn't my fault .sx It's theirs , for keeping the floors so slippery .sx I told you I'd have a fall , and I've had one .sx I went spinning all down the ward on that absurdly polished floor , my arms full of enamel ware , and I could not stop myself .sx It wasn't my fault if I did bang into the screens and drop those things , and it was just bad luck that the screen came down on the fireplace and rattled the fireirons .sx And I've bumped my head so that I shouldn't wonder if I've permanently injured my skull .sx But do you think they cared a hang about how I was hurt ?sx Not they !sx That beastly sneak of a staff nurse went off to Matron to say she wouldn't have me in her ward any longer .sx And Matron came and told me I'd got to work in the children's ward .sx And she said she was afraid I was not suited to this work .sx So I'm not !sx But she needn't think I'm going into the children's ward , for I'm not going there .sx " " Audrey , Audrey , you must go where you're sent in hospital !sx " " I won't !sx " vehemently declared Audrey .sx Then she clenched her fist .sx " I'm going home , " she burst out .sx " I'd rather have father bossing round than those nurses .sx I'm going straight home this very minute .sx " She flung off my restraining hands , and dashed upstairs for her things .sx I stood hesitating .sx What was I to do ?sx Ought I to stop her ?sx Or would it be wiser to let her go ?sx Before I could answer that question , down she came , dressed in her own hat and coat , having discarded a nurse's uniform for ever .sx " You can pack up my things and send them after me , " she said , " and I give you the blissful task of announcing to Matron and the rest that I'm sick of them all .sx They said that they'd never make a nurse of me and so they shan't !sx Good-bye , Celia , old thing .sx Fix up with that doctor , I advise you .sx He's over head and ears in love with you I knew by his face when I announced to him your engagement to the Professor .sx I've decided that I won't marry him myself , or anyone who has anything to do with a hospital .sx I can't stand their serious earnestness , and I hate tending a lot of sick creatures .sx It would give me the hump if I had to stay here listening to them groaning and moaning and grumbling .sx Ta-ta !sx I suppose you won't come back with me ?sx " I shook my head , but I made no attempt to prevent her going .sx She had successfully proved to me , at any rate , that she was not cut out for a nurse !sx Audrey's hospital career had been stormy , but it was remarkably short !sx And when I announced , at tea-time , that she had run away , not a single voice was raised in protest or regret .sx A little later that evening I encountered Matron .sx She stopped me .sx " I hear that your cousin has gone home again ; " she said .sx " Well , I don't think she would have succeeded in this profession .sx But I consider that she ought to have bidden me farewell .sx " " Matron !sx " I exclaimed , in distress .sx " PIease excuse her !sx She was afraid that you would prevent her going home .sx " " She need not have been afraid of that , " said Matron , and then she laughed , and it seemed as if the sun shone forth again at the close of that eventful day .sx THE MARRIAGE LICENCE .sx TO my unspeakable thankfulness , the ex-Service man got over the terrible start Audrey had given him :sx He was calm , if not phlegmatic , by temperament , and to that , no doubt , was due his wonderful recovery .sx But how little Audrey realised the serious nature of her recklessness was proved by a letter she sent me directly she got home , in which there was no mention of him at all .sx Both her parents even her father were so glad to have her at home again that they gave her a welcome instead of a scolding .sx She told me that she believed the " old boy " was really not so very bad at heart .sx He had been quite decent towards her , and she had promised never again to have another shy at nursing .sx Her one day's experience had convinced her that she was not cut out for the profession .sx Even Flo Banner came into favour with Nurse Mitchell after her experience of Audrey , so ( as Flo told me , chuckling ) her brief career had done some good , after all .sx And now began a serious tussle with the Professor , in which everybody was against me .sx I did not at first understand what was going on .sx There was a decided improvement in the condition of this awkward patient when once he started taking his nourishment again , and as he consistently refused to accept food from anyone except " Blue Eyes , " I was compelled to take in every meal for him , no matter what else I had to do .sx And it seemed as if all the nurses were conspiring to keep me in his ward as much as possible .sx Nurse Crawford revealed to me one day what this all meant .sx " If we can cure the Professor , " said she , " the whole scientific world will be grateful to us , and it will be a triumph for our hospital .sx When you were away we abandoned all hope .sx But directly you came back he rallied .sx Listen to me , Mascot , and take it in .sx Do you know that you might be an important national asset by saving the life of that genius ?sx " " I can't save his life , " said I. .sx " Yes , you can .sx And by doing what would be considered ideal by almost any other girl .sx You know perfectly well what I mean .sx Now , do think this over , and remember that it would be a triumph to our hospital if its Mascot performed this duty or made this sacrifice , if you prefer to put it that way .sx After all , what does your insignificant little life matter compared with his ?sx " " It's all nonsense , " I vehemently protested .sx " He does not mean anything , really , and even if he did " .sx " He does , " interrupted Nurse Crawford ; " he's more in earnest than you believe , and , what is more , what that man chooses he gets .sx You may as well make up your silly little mind to give in , as I am certain you'll have to in the end , whether you like or not .sx " Then one day , as I was carrying the Professor's lunch to his ward , I met Dr. Vancey going out of it .sx He stood still a moment in the corridor , and gave me a look I shall never forget .sx It went through me like an icicle , chilling me to the very soul .sx What had I done ?sx How had I offended him ?sx As nearly as possible I dropped the tray I was carrying ; but pride came to the rescue , and I managed to pass him without showing my consternation .sx I was conscious that he was watching me to see where I was taking my tray , and for once I was guilty of a little duplicity .sx Instead of carrying it straight in to the Professor , I walked on to the far end of the corridor , as if going into Miss Humphries' ward .sx At her door I paused , and glanced back .sx Yes , Dr. Yancey had gone .sx I was able to return and give the right patient his lunch .sx