“Helen,” he said, speaking rapidly, “I’ve no time to break the news to you. The most impossible sort of a thing has happened. You have got to hear it all at once, because there is a man almost dying out there and I’ve got to hurry. You know the reserves that came in to-day? Now hang on, Helen! Captain Hazelden was with them. Oh, Helen,” as she wavered and almost fell, “if you go to pieces you will always regret it!”
“Dead?” she murmured.
“No, but he’s outside awfully shot, and he has been keeping himself alive just to see you. You will have to help, Helen, if you can.”
He left her standing beside the table. She could not call the doctor. She could not speak. They came in with the stretcher, and as she saw its ghastly burden and gave a quick professional glance at his maimed body, the tender woman and the trained nurse struggled for the mastery. The nurse won. Swiftly she prepared the table, called the doctor and helped to lift him from the stretcher.
Zaidos and Velo left to rescue the man whose weight had kept the captain from bleeding to death. His scalp wound was serious but not dangerous, Zaidos decided, and they returned to the First Aid with lighter hearts.
The room was empty. Hazelden was not there. Zaidos’ heart dropped. Had he died?
Helen answered the question in his face. She came to meet Zaidos. Her eyes shone, her cheeks were the loveliest pink. Her step was light.
“Well?” said Zaidos.
“More than well!” said Helen. “Oh, John, it is wonderful! Wonderful! And you brought me my happiness! I am to be transferred to the field hospital tomorrow, where I can nurse him myself. He will live; he must live! We could not talk, but he knew me. And I know everything is all right!”