CHAPTER 10
The time speeds rapidly on and Beatrice is now counted as quite an old nurse. She finds her work in the bungalows very pleasant and the soldiers find her most obliging. She works hard and is never tempted to grumble.
One day just as she is settling down to write after tea, after a hard day's work, Nurse Helen looks in at the door. "Nurse Mildred," she exclaims "you are to go at once to Bungalow number 5; a wounded soldier has just been taken there and is very ill I fear."
Beatrice jumps up and putting on her bonnet walks quickly to the 5th bungalow. It is a little white one on the outskirts of the jungle and close to the battle field, and in it there is a bed, two chairs, a jug, basin and table. Beatrice takes hold of a small cup and measures some ointment into it, and then taking a sponge bathes the man's wounds. He is a very thin man with long slender hands and black hair and eyes, and at a first glance Beatrice sees that he is on the point of death. She does all she can for him and then at his wish reads some Holy Scriptures to him. Then seeing his eyes droop she goes to the other end of the bungalow and waits.
Presently she hears a weak voice say "Beatrice!"
She starts, it is a long time since that name has fallen on her ears. "Beatrice, dont you know me?" says the voice once more.
In a minute Beatrice is at his side clasping his hand in hers. "Oh Lawrence, Lawrence!" she cries.
Then there is silence. "Lawrence can you ever forgive me?" moans Beatrice at last.
"Forgive you my darling? It is the one thing I have lived for" says Lawrence.
"Accept me as your lawful wife," cries Beatrice bending over him.