Part 38 (1/2)
”Come this way--quietly.”
They pa.s.sed on tip-toe to the pa.s.sage leading to the street, where some flickering gleams of the light without fell over them.
”Where's your hat?” said John.
”I forgot that too--I left it in the church.”
”Take mine,” said John, ”and put up your hood and b.u.t.ton your ca.s.sock--it's a cruel night.”
”But I'm afraid,” said Paul.
”Afraid of what?”
”Now that the time has come I'm afraid to learn the truth about her.
After all uncertainty is hope, you know, and then----”
”Tut! Be a man! Don't give way at the last moment. Here, tie my handkerchief about your neck! How helpless you are, though! I've half a mind to go myself instead.”
”But you don't know what I want to say, and if you did you couldn't say it.”
”Then listen! Are you listening?”
”Yes.”
”Go to the hospital where your sister used to be a nurse.”
”Martha's Vineyard?”
”Ask for Nurse Quayle--will you remember?”
”Nurse Quayle.”
”If she is on night duty she will see you at once. But if she is on day duty she may be in bed and asleep, and in that case----”
”What?”
”Here, take this letter. Have you got it?”
”Yes.”
”Give it to the porter. Tell him it comes from the former chaplain--you remember. Say it concerns a matter of great importance, and ask him to send it up to the dormitories immediately. Then----”
”Well?”
”Then _she_ must tell you what to do next.”
”But if she is out?”
”She may be-this is New Year's Eve.”