Finally discovering and adjusting his glasses, Dr. Armstrong eyed Miss Durant with a quality of imperturbability at once irritating and embarrassing.  “I beg your pardon for the hasty remark I just made,” he apologised.  “Not having my second sight at command, I did not realise I was speaking to so young a girl, and therefore I allowed myself to be offended, which was foolish.  If you choose to go with the patient, I trust you will satisfy yourself that no one in this hospital is lacking in duty or kindness.”

With a feeling much akin to that she had formerly suffered at the conclusion of her youthful spankings, Constance followed hurriedly after the orderlies, only too thankful that a reason had been given her permitting an escape from those steady eyes and amused accents, which she was still feeling when the litter was set down beside an empty bed.

“Has dat slob tooken me money for keeps?” whimpered the boy the moment the orderlies had departed.

“No, no,” Constance assured him, her hand in his.

“Den w’y’d he pinch it so quick?”

“He’s going to take care of it for you, that’s all.”

“Will he guv me a wroten pape sayin’ dat?”

“See,” said the girl, only eager to relieve his anxiety, “here is my purse, and there is a great deal more money in it than you had, and I’ll leave it with you, and if he doesn’t return you your money, why, you shall have mine.”

“Youse cert’in dere’s more den Ise had?”

“Certain.  Look, here are two tens and three fives and a one, besides some change.”

“Dat’s all hunky!” joyfully ejaculated the urchin.  “Now, den, wheer kin we sneak it so he don’t git his hooks on it?”

“This is to be your bed, and let’s hide it under the pillow,” suggested Constance, feeling as if she were playing a game.  “Then you can feel of it whenever you want.”

“Dat’s de way to steal a base off ’im,” acceded the waif.  “We’ll show dese guys wese oin’t no bunch of easy grapes.”

Scarcely was the purse concealed when a nurse appeared with a pail of water and rolls of some cloth, and after her came the doctor.

“Now, my boy,” he said, with a kindness and gentleness in his voice which surprised Constance, “I’ve got to hurt you a little, and let’s see how brave you can be.”  He took hold of the left leg the ankle and stretched it, at the same time manipulating the calf with the fingers of his other hand.

The boy gave a cry of pain, and clutched Constance’s arm, squeezing it so as to almost make her scream; but she set her teeth determinedly and took his other hand in hers.

At a word the nurse grasped the limb and held it as it was placed, while the doctor took one of the rolls, and, dipping it in the water, unrolled it round and round the leg, with a rapidity and deftness which had, to Constance, a quality of fascination in it.  A second wet bandage was wound over the first, then a dry one, and the leg was gently laid back on the litter.  “Take his temperature,” ordered the doctor, as he began to apply strips of adhesive plaster to the injured ribs; and though it required some persuasion by the nurse and Constance, the invalid finally was persuaded to let the little glass lie under his tongue.  His task completed, Dr. Armstrong withdrew the tube and glanced at it.