“But, Jeanne, Madame Castaigne, and Captain Castaigne’s old mother, indeed all of his friends must be always grateful to you. You see, without you they might never have known what had become of him and he could never have had the same care. Now he may grow so much better that he will some day be able to thank you himself.”
Nona did not really believe this last part of her speech, but Jeanne looked a little happier.
“He is better now,” she returned, “and I could have cared for him. He understands almost everything I say and you see he must have recognized Duke, since he has wished to have him beside him since their meeting thus morning.”
Jeanne spoke as proudly as a mother would speak of a child, but her words and manner made Nona almost ill, remembering Captain Castaigne as she had known him.
She was grateful when, a little later, Eugenia sent word that she return to the hospital and leave her for a time with Madame Bonnèt. She was to ask Mildred Thornton to take charge of the hospital for the rest of the day, Eugenia would return toward evening.
Since she occupied the same room with her, Nona dreaded the return. But it chanced that she did not know when Eugenia finally came back.
It was ten o’clock when Nona, having competed her hospital work, was free to go to bed.
Then she found Eugenia in their bedroom already undressed.
“I was tired, Nona. I hope things at the hospital have gone on all right without me. But then I know they have, Mildred is more capable than I am.”
Then, when Nona came and put her arms about her friend, Eugenia said: