That was good.

“All right, I’ll see what I can do,” he said, “but hadn’t you better ask her if she is willing to see me?”

“Well, not exactly,” said the nurse, “she might take it into her head to refuse, and that wouldn’t be well. I’ll just take it for granted. That’s better. We simply must stop her worrying!”

With which last whispered word the nurse swung the door open and said in a clear, cheery tone, “Miss McLaren, I’m bringing a visitor to see you. This is Mr. Sterling who picked you up yesterday and brought you here. He’s been anxious to know how you are, and I knew you would want to thank him.”

The girl on the bed turned quick, troubled eyes toward the young man, and a little color sprang into her white cheeks.

Greg went toward the bed with his cheerful grin in evidence. He wasn’t thinking about himself, or he would have been shy, for he wasn’t used to girls. But this one had come very close to his heart, and he was most anxious to help her.

“But say!” he exclaimed eagerly. “You’re looking better already, aren’t you? I certainly am glad. You had me scared for a few minutes last night. I thought you had passed out!”

The girl managed a wan smile.

“It was very good of you to care for me,” she said. “I’m sorry I had to make so much trouble for everybody. You see, I hadn’t been eating much yesterday. I was worried, and I just sat down there a little while to rest. I had no idea I would collapse like that. I suppose I’m rather run down. I’ve been working hard—”

“Yes,” said Greg sympathetically, “I can see you would. And it’s perhaps a good thing you did collapse just when you did. I’m certainly glad I was on hand to see you fall. You see, you had picked out a place to sit where you were not very visible from the road, and if I hadn’t happened to be up in my room looking out the window, I wouldn’t have seen you either. It was getting dusk, too, and nobody might have found you until it was too late. Not so many people walk through that park. I’m just glad I had the chance to help in time. Say, I certainly am glad you’re looking so much better.”

He was rattling on like an eager boy, just because he didn’t know what was the right thing to say. He was not a young man inclined to many words.

“But say,” he suddenly caught himself and looked at the nurse, “am I talking too much? Are you sure I don’t tire you, Miss McLaren? I wouldn’t want you to have a setback from my coming in.”

“Oh no,” said the invalid quickly, “I’m glad you came. Perhaps you can fix things up for me right away so I can leave. Since you brought me here, you ought to know how to cut some of the red tape that seems to hinder my leaving.”

“Why sure!” he said reassuringly. “I’ll see what can be done, but I don’t believe anybody will be willing you should leave right away. You see, you really need a few days’ rest after such an experience.