Downstairs the telephone
rang. It rang, too, in Hilda's room. Hilda's door opened and shut.
She came across the hall and tapped on Jean's door. "May I come in?"
"Yes."
"Your father has just telephoned," Hilda said from the threshold, "that
General Drake's nurse is not well, and will have to be taken off the
case. I shall have to go in her place. There is a great shortage at
the hospital. Will you be afraid to stay alone, or shall I wake up
Ellen and have her sleep on the couch in your dressing room?"
"Of course I am not afraid, Hilda. Nothing can happen until father
comes back."
As Hilda went away, Jean had a delicious feeling of detachment. She
would be alone in the house with her thoughts of Derry.
She got out of bed to say her prayers. With something of a thrill she
prayed for Derry's father. She was not conscious as she made her
petitions of any ulterior motive. Yet a placated Providence would, she
felt sure, see that the General's sickness should not frustrate the
plans which she had quite daringly made for his son.
CHAPTER VIII
THE SHADOWED ROOM
Derry had dined that night with his cousin, Margaret Morgan.
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