Eugenia decided that Nona looked a little tired and wondered if more work was being put upon her than the other nurses. She did not wish this. Lieutenant Martin had been a trying patient, not because he had been so ill, but because his nerves had been so overstrained by the[146] severe demands he made upon himself in camp.

[146]

However, he was growing better and Eugenia had several times thought of removing Nona from the case. Yet Lieutenant Martin had begged so hard, had promised such impossible improvement and reformation that she had been turned aside.

Moreover, Eugenia liked the young officer with his stern sense of duty, his strong will and high temper. With these traits of character there were other far more appealing ones, and he was one of the finest types of a soldier. Besides, Eugenia was amused by Nona’s present softening influence upon him. Eugenia knew she could reduce him to whatever terms she desired by threatening to change his nurse.

So she said nothing to Nona at the moment of seeing her in the hall, only smiled at her in a fashion which had the most surprising influence upon the people working under her. Eugenia’s approval seemed to make all the cogs in the wheel run smoother.

Madame Castaigne was on her way to a[147] small room which was reserved as a kind of reception room at the front of the hospital. Someone had sent up a card asking to see her and she always saw people when this did not interfere with her work.

[147]

Ten minutes later she stopped by Lieutenant Martin’s room and after knocking Nona admitted her.

Nona was now on duty a part of each day, as her patient did not require a special night nurse.

The room looked very clean and comfortable, with its white bed and white walls, and some few photographs which Nona had discovered and placed around. And the patient appeared extremely cheerful and handsome.

The bandage had been removed from his head and Eugenia thought she had seldom seen anyone reveal breeding more distinctly.

He and Nona had been laughing over something the moment before she entered and Lieutenant Jack Martin’s gray eyes were still so filled with amusement, his whole expression had changed.

“Miss Davis is a great bully. You would[148] not guess it 

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