We have busy days before us."
He spoke impulsively. "You are a good woman, Emily--there's no one in
the world that I would trust to stay with Jean but you."
She smiled a little wistfully as she went upstairs. She had perhaps
comforted him, but she had left unsaid the words she should have
spoken. "You must not take Hilda with you. If you take her with you,
will your Jean be proud of her Daddy in France?"
CHAPTER XI
HILDA WEARS A CROWN
At two o'clock on Thanksgiving morning the light burned low in the
General's room. Hilda, wide awake, was reading. Derry stopped at the
door.
She rose at once and went to him.
"Is he all right, Miss Merritt?"
"Yes. He's sound asleep."
"Then you think he's better?"
"Much better."
"Good. I hope you can stay on the case. Dr. McKenzie says it is all
because of your splendid care of him. I just left McKenzie, by the
way. I took him and his daughter to the ball at the Willard. We had a
corking time."
Her eyes saw a change in him. This was not the listless Derry with
whom she had talked the day before--here were flushed cheeks and
shining eyes--gay youth and gladness--.
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