"And what do you mean by that, Alice? You asked me to visit you here, to see your work among your patients.I have come.If I came at all, it had to be now.I can't always leave home for a week at a time.And I can't help it, can I, if Mr.Weldon happens to be one of your patients?""No; you can't," Alice admitted slowly."It only remains to be seen whether you would care to help it, if you could."Again Ethel crossed the room.This time, she dropped down at her cousin's side.
"Don't let us argue about it and get cross at each other, dear.If Ihave made a mistake in coming now, I am sorry.But I am here.Let me stay a few days; I may be able to help you a little.Anyway, Ipromise not to be a trouble to you.It is so long since I have seen you, Alice.And--" Again the silence dropped.
Alice roused herself from the reverie which was creeping over her.
She was glad to see Ethel, unfeignedly glad.The bright, animated presence of her cousin, during the next few days, could not fail to be a tonic.And, as Ethel had said, she herself had been the one to suggest the first idea of the winter visit.Chance and Captain Frazer had decreed that it should take place now, when Alice's hands were immoderately full of work.But then, so much the better.Ethel could make herself invaluable among the convalescents.She herself had not put on her Red-Cross badge for the sake of taking her rest hour at the bedside of Trooper Harvard Weldon.
Half undressed, Ethel paused, hair brush in hand."You can't imagine how tired I am, Alice.It is a terrible journey up here nowadays.Iwas in terror of a train-wreck at any moment," she said drowsily.
"Don't let me sleep too long in the morning, because," she pulled open her eyes long enough to dart a mocking glance over her shoulder at her cousin; "because you know, right after breakfast, you are going to let me begin to help you take care of some of your people."From behind her own sheltering veil of ink-black hair, Alice laughed.
"Cooee, you are a dear; but you're rather a trial," she said slowly.
"However, now that you are here, I think I shall ask the P.M.O.to set you to work to watch over the needs of Mr.Weldon.He won't be here much longer; but, while he stays, I shall consider him your patient." Then, brushing aside the veil, she bent forward and touched her lips to her cousin's cheek.
"Might I ask what brought you up here, Miss Dent?" Weldon asked, the next day.
Beside him sat Ethel, her hands demurely clasped in the lap of her broad white apron.
"My cousin's invitation," she replied.
"Then Miss Mellen knew you were coming?"
"Yes.She asked me to come, early in the winter.""Strange she said nothing about it! We were talking about you, only yesterday.""She didn't know, even then, that I was so imminent," Ethel answered."I took her quite by surprise, at the last.""A surprise all around, then," he said, with a boyish laugh."I was astonished to find Miss Mellen here, and you must have been equally astonished to find me.If only Captain Frazer would appear, our old quartette would be complete.""I am afraid we must get on without him," she said lightly.
"Unfortunately, yes.I wonder where he is.""In Cape Town," she replied unexpectedly.
"Really? What is he doing there?"
