"Ah, that's relief, that's comfort!" ejaculated Coventry, as the lasttight fold fell away. "Ned was afraid I should bleed to death if hetouched me. What will the physician say to us?"

"I neither know nor care. I shall say to him that he is a bad surgeon tobind it so closely, and not leave orders to have it untied if necessary.Now I shall make it easy and put you to sleep, for that is what youneed. Shall I? May I?"

"I wish you would, if you can."

And while she deftly rearranged the bandages, the young man watched hercuriously. Presently he asked, "How came you to know so much aboutthese skinnygs?"

"In the hospital where I sometimes was ill, I saw much that interested me, andwhen I got better, I used to sing to the patients sometimes."