She was not to give a reason for her coming except to say that Madame Bonnèt wished to speak to Madame Castaigne on a matter of great importance.
Yet even this responsibility Barbara refused to share with Nona. For, although finally agreeing that Eugenia must be told, she vanished at once after reaching the hospital and went on duty without seeing her friend, for fear there might be something in her expression that would arouse suspicion.
Naturally, Nona felt the same fear; however, she could not escape the situation and Eugenia must have the friends who cared for her with her at so crucial an hour. Nona could scarcely conceive of Eugenia’s failing one of them at a time of like need.
She managed to have a moment with Mildred Thornton and to confide their impression to her. But Nona did not feel that there could be any possibility of a mistake. Another point had been that Duke had refused to return to the hospital with them, that so far neither physical force nor persuasion had induced him to leave the French soldier’s side. There could be no one save Captain Castaigne to whom he would show this allegiance.
It chanced that Eugenia was extremely busy when Nona found her to deliver Madame Bonnèt’s message. A number of American soldiers, who had been fighting as volunteers with the French army, having been wounded at the front, had just been sent on to Eugenia’s hospital for special care.
“I am sorry, I shall not be able to see Madame Bonnèt until tomorrow. Someone will please deliver my message to her; not you, Nona dear, you already look tired,” and Eugenia had actually started to move away to her work, as if the conversation were closed.
But to Nona any postponement appeared impossible. Eugenia herself would never forgive them, should anything now interfere with her meeting with her husband, however tragically he may have changed.
“But, dear, it is something really important Madame Bonnèt wishes to tell you. I don’t think you should wait until tomorrow. Please come with me at once.”
Then Eugenia had turned around and looked at Nona searchingly.
“Very well, Nona, as soon as you have had lunch. You feel you wish to go with me to Madame Bonnèt’s? You would rather I did not go alone?”