"Aunt Jane? I don't know where she is. I thought she came into her office."
"Well—she isn't here. You can see she isn't here, can't you? Find her—please."
Aunt Jane behind her crack, shivered a little as the girl turned. But the nurse had eyes and ears only for the surgeon and his impatience. She hurried away.
Aunt Jane drew a free breath.
The surgeon crossed to her desk and halted there. His eye rested absently on the great bunch of roses. Presently his face lighted up; he was seeing the roses! He looked at them with an air of appreciation. The little smile was still on his lips, and the tumty-tumty tune.... Slowly he leaned forward, on tiptoe, and—smelled of them and nodded approval.
Aunt Jane's hands made swift, darting touches at her cap and her apron and her hair and she got up quickly.... Perhaps he would go away! But Dr. Carmon's eye had fallen on the little card under the vase and he took it up—and read the name with near-sighted curious gaze, and turned it over——
Aunt Jane stepped out from her place. "How is Number 16?" she asked placidly.
He wheeled—the card in his hand.