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IntheRectorythenightwasonelongagonyoffearandanxiety。
AdrienhadtakenMrs。Eganandherbabehomeinataxiassoonascircumstanceswouldwarrant，andthen，lesttheyshouldalarmtheirmother，theymadepretenseofretiringforthenight。
Afterseeingtheirmothersafelybestowed，theyslippeddownstairs，and，mufflingthetelephone，satwaitingfornews，slippingoutnowandthentothestreet，oneatatime，towatchtheglareofthefireintheskyandtolistenforthesoundsofriotingfromthetown。
AtlengthfromVictorcamenewsofthetragedy。Withwhiteningface，Adrientookthemessage。NotfornothinghadshewalkedthewardsinFrance。
“Listen，Victor，“shesaid，speakinginaquick，firmvoice。“Itisalmostimpossibletogetanurseintimeandquiteimpossibletogetoneskilledinthissortofcase。Comeforme。Ishallbereadyandshalltakecharge。TellDr。MeredithIamquitefree。“
“Allright。Losenotime。“
“Oh，whatisit，Adrien？“saidPatricia，wringingherhands。“IsitJack？OrVictor？“
Adriencaughtherbytheshoulders:“Patricia，Iwantyourhelp。
Notalk！Comewithme。IwilltellyouasIdress。“
Swiftly，withnohurryorflurry，Adrienchangedintoheruniform，packedherbag，givingPatriciameantimethestoryofthetragedywhichshehadheardoverthetelephone。
“AndtothinkitmighthavebeenJack，“saidPatricia，wringingherhands。“Oh，dear，dearAnnette。Can’tIhelpinsomeway，Adrien？“
“Patricia，listentome，child。Thefirstthingiskeepyourhead。
Youcanhelpmegreatly。Youwilltakechargehereandlater，perhaps，youcanhelpmeinotherways。Meantimeyoumustassumefullresponsibilityforthemallhere。Muchdependsonyou！“
Thegirlstoodgazingwithwide-openblueeyesathersister。Thenquietlysheanswered:
“I’lldomybest，Adrien。There’sVic。“Sherushedswiftlydownstairs。Suddenlyshestopped，steadiedherpace，andreceivedhimwithacalmthatsurprisedthatyoungmanbeyondmeasure。
“Adrienisquiteready，Vic，“shesaid。
“Topping，“saidVic。“Whatabricksheis！Dr。Meredithdidn’tknowwheretoturnforanurse。Thehospitalisfull。Everynurseisengaged。Somuchsickness，youknow，intown。Ah，heresheis。
Youarealightning-changeartist，Adrien。“
“HowisAnnette，Vic？Isshestillliving？“askedPatricia。
“Idon’tknow，“repliedVic，wonderingatthechangeinthegirlbeforehim。
“Darling，“saidAdrien，“Iwillletyouknowatonce。Ihatetoleaveyou。“
“Leaveme！“criedPatricia。“Nonsense，Adrien，Ishallbequiteallright。Only，“sheadded，claspingherhands，“letmeknowwhenyoucan。“
WhentheambulancearrivedattheMaitlandhome，Adrienwasatthedoor。Allwasinreadiness——hotwater，bandages，andeverythingneedfultothedoctor’shand。
McNishcarriedAnnetteuptotheroompreparedforher，laidherdownandstoodindumbgrieflookingdownuponher。
Adrientouchedhimonthearm。
“Come，“shesaid。And，takinghisarm，ledhimdownstairs。“Stayhere，“shesaid。“Iwillbringyouwordassoonaspossible。“
Anhourlatershereturned，andfoundhimsittingintheexactpositioninwhichshehadlefthim。Heapparentlyhadnotmovedhandorfoot。Atherentrancehelookedup，eager，voiceless。
“Sheisresting，“saidAdrien。“Thebulletisextracted。Ithadgonequitethroughtotheouterskin——acleanwound。“
“Howlong，“saidMcNish，passinghistongueoverhisdrylips，“howlongdoesthedoctorsay——“
“Thedoctorsaysnothing。Sheaskedforyou。“
McNishstartedupandwenttowardthedoor。
“Butyoucannotgotohernow。“
“Sheaskedforme？“saidMcNish。
“Yes。Butshemustbekeptquitequiet。Theveryleastexcitementmighthurther。“
“Hurther？“saidMcNish，andsatdownquietly
