Nona did not speak to her on the subject of her confession to her husband, realizing that she must wait until Barbara showed a desire to bestow her confidence. Yet several times Nona wished that she felt she had the right to talk to Dick. They had been good friends in the past, surely he must see that Barbara had merely behaved like a spoiled child and would not allow her one offense to spoil their happiness. Yet certainly he looked even more unhappy than Barbara.
But without doubt neither Dick nor Barbara received the attention that would have been bestowed upon them under ordinary circumstances.
For the entire staff at the hospital, including Mildred Thornton, who was Richard Thornton’s sister and Barbara’s sister-in-law, and also Mollie Drew, were too excited by the unexpected change for the better in Captain Castaigne.
Captain Castaigne had not miraculously recovered. He had no recollection of his injury nor his illness afterwards, neither could he recall many circumstances in his past life before or since the outbreak of the war. Yet the great fact was that he had recognized his wife and now wished her with him constantly.
Very slowly, very painstakingly, Eugenia, under the doctor’s advice, was teaching Captain Castaigne to recall other things. Yet, after all, it was better that he should not remember too much at the beginning. The thought of the war, of his own suffering, of the tragedy through which his beloved land was passing, were happily gone from his mind.
Perhaps, never in their married life had he and Eugenia been so happy. Always until now they had enjoyed only a few hurried days or weeks together, with Captain Castaigne about to return to the front and Eugenia to her nursing.
On the day following Captain Castaigne’s recognition of his wife, Mildred Thornton quietly assumed management of the hospital. This, of course, was after consultation with the doctors and nurses on the staff and was regarded as only temporary. But for the present Eugenia must be spared every outside responsibility.
Yet there was one serious piece of information she could not be spared.
Three days after Captain Castaigne’s partial recovery the officer in command at the American camp sent Lieutenants Martin and Kelley and a secret service officer for a private interview with Madame Castaigne. She spent two hours with them behind a locked door.
By accident Nona Davis chanced to be in the front of the hospital when the officers arrived, and although they bowed to her formally, not one of them showed the least inclination to talk to her, nor to explain the nature of the errand.