Miss Sterling laughed.  “That is what Polly wished.  But as for my being brave, Miss Crilly, I’m afraid I’m not.  I am going to tell you my big secret—­I have told only Polly yet; but maybe it will give you something to think of,—­I expect to marry Mr. Randolph!”

“O-h, Miss Sterling!  Oh, my!  Isn’t that perfectly beautiful!  Well, you have given me something to think of!  Why, I ’most forgot already what’s comin’!  And I’m going to keep thinking of it hard, so’s I won’t worry!  The idea of your marryin’ the president!  I do’ know’s I wonder you weren’t scared o’ Miss Sniffen!  And to think how I jollied you only this morning—­about him!  Why, I never thought of such a thing!”

“Of course not!  But it didn’t trouble me.”

“It didn’t—­really?”

“No, I quite enjoyed it!”

“You’re awful good to say so!  But what about Miss Puddicombe?  I thought he was—­”

“No, he wasn’t.  It was a mistake.  They’re cousins, distant cousins, that’s all.”

“Well, well, isn’t that funny!  And I’m so glad for you that I don’t know what to do!—­O-h! my! that was a pretty big pain!  But I can bear it better now—­will you kiss me once, just once, Miss Sterling?”

She bent and kissed her, and smiled cheerily.

“What’s that!  I guess they’re after me!  Oh, if I don’t come back—­”

“But you are coming back!”

“Maybe—­but if I shouldn’t, remember I’ll always love you for what you’ve done for me!”

The patient was wrapped up quickly by one of the hospital nurses, and two orderlies bore her away.  She was still smiling.

Juanita Sterling stood watching her out of sight, when a light step close behind made her start.

“Did I frighten you?” smiled Mrs. Albright.  “It’s about Miss Twining—­Has Dr. Temple gone?”

“He was in the hall talking with Mr. Randolph.  I’ll see.”

She ran down a few steps, and then back again.

“They’re there still.  Is she worse?”

“I don’t know.  She heard the commotion and after they’d gone called me in.  She got nervous, lying there and imagining everything.  I wish the Doctor could see her.  Should you dare ask?”

“Yes—­” She was on the stairs.

Nelson Randolph saw her coming and put out his hand.  But he dropped hers suddenly, as his fingers touched it.

The sparkles of amusement were still in her eyes when she told her errand.

Dr. Temple looked at his watch.

“Time enough?” inquired the president.

“Plenty.”

Mr. Randolph approached the superintendent who was busying herself at her desk.

In a moment he returned.  “Mrs. Nobbs will go up with you,” he said.

Juanita Sterling did not wait; she hastened upstairs to insure Mrs.
Albright’s safe exit from the corner room.

The door was left partly open as Mrs. Nobbs and the physician entered, and the two in the opposite apartment moved out of range.