“Is there anything new, Bob? Won’t you tell me? Or do you really feel worse?”
“My leg hurts a bit, but not enough to worry about. Don’t bother, Lucy, I’m all right.”
Nothing more could she get out of him, and she had too much to decide for herself to spend any longer time coaxing his confidence.
It was Wednesday, and not a holiday for her, but immediately after luncheon she went to Miss Pearse and begged the afternoon off duty. This was the harder as she did not want to explain her plan to anyone in the hospital, and least of all did she want any hint of it to reach Bob’s ears. Today was the day of Elizabeth’s rendezvous, according to the letter which Lucy had reread half a dozen times over the night before by her bedroom candle. If she was to discover her old nurse’s secret she must act to-day, and without Bob’s help, for she was convinced that he was suffering again, and not for anything in the world would she have tempted him to fresh activity.
Miss Pearse was surprised at Lucy’s request, but did not refuse consent. “Where are you going?“ she asked. ”To Coblenz? You’ll want the whole afternoon, then. I’ll have to take away your Thursday half-holiday.“
“Of course, I meant you to. Oh, Miss Pearse, thanks ever so much. I’ll work twice as hard.”
Miss Pearse laughed, for this was one of Lucy’s old habits, to run away from her duty on some adventure and make up for lost time later by a tremendous burst of energy. “Be back by supper time,” she said, nodding good-bye.
Lucy had found out earlier in the day that a motor-truck was leaving the hospital soon after luncheon for Badheim with some of the convalescents. The driver promised to take her on to Coblenz. Her plans were vague enough. After turning over Elizabeth’s strange conduct in her mind until she was weary she had come to no conclusion. Her one purpose now was to see Elizabeth, if possible, and, that failing, to find Larry and ask his help in place of Bob’s.
By three o’clock the truck left her at the door of her father’s house. It was a fine, sunny winter afternoon. The snow sparkled on the ground and the air was clear and bracing. The streets were crowded with people, many of whom stopped, with German inquisitiveness, to stare at Lucy as she waited on the door-step.
The door was opened by an orderly who greeted her with, “Oh, Miss, I’m sorry. The General went out an hour ago. He didn’t say when he’d be home.”