“Not yet,” she whispered softly. “But it’s earth, and the war is over! I’ve come to help you get well and take you home! It’s really you and you’re not ‘Missing’ any more.”
Then without any excuse at all she laid her lips on his forehead and kissed him. She had read her permit in his eyes.
His well arm stole out and pressed her to him hungrily:
“It’s—really you and you don’t belong to anybody else?” he asked, anxiously searching her face for his answer.
“Oh, John! I never did belong to anybody else but you. All my life ever since I was a little girl I’ve thought you were wonderful! Didn’t you know that? Didn’t you see down at camp? I’m sure it was written all over my face.”
His hand crept up and pressed her face close against his:
“Oh, my darling!” he breathed, “my darling! The most wonderful girl in the world!”
When the doctor and nurse pushed back the screen and entered the little alcove the new nurse sat demurely at the foot of the cot, but a little while later the voice of the patient rang out joyously:
“Doctor, how soon can I get out of this. I think I’ve stayed here about long enough.”
The wondering doctor touched his patient’s forehead, looked at him keenly, felt his pulse with practised finger, and replied: