She found the matron and took her aside before introducing her to the newcomers. She did not explain her reason for wishing to absent herself from duty for some days, nor did the tactful Frenchwoman ask after she was told that the Countess Marchand approved. But she told the matron about her two girl friends who had arrived so unexpectedly.
"They are good girls, and capable girls, and I can show them very briefly my ordinary duties, Madame."
"It is well, Mademoiselle Fielding," the woman said with cordiality. "Let me now greet your friends."
So Helen and Jennie were introduced, and the matron said she would find two rooms in the nurses' quarters for the visitors. But first the three girls must go to Ruth's little cell and have tea while they talked.
"First of all," Helen began. "How is Tommy-boy?"
"He is perfectly well as far as I know," Ruth said gravely.
"Goodness! You are not mad with him?"
"Of course not. How silly," her chum returned.
"Well, but don't you see him every day or two?"
Ruth Fielding stared at her chum, not alone with gravity, but with scorn.