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“Yes, if what you tell me is true and he trusted me.”

Sister Teresa rose to her feet, crossed herself, and said in a voice that seemed to come through pent-up tears:

“Thank God! I go now to pray. It is my Hour of Silence.”

When she returned, Nurse Jennings was still in her seat in the bow. The sun shone bright and warm, and the sea had become calm.

“You look rested, Sister,” she said, looking up into her face. “Your color is fresher and the dark rings have gone from your eyes. Did you sleep?”

“No, I wait for the night to sleep. It is hard enough then.”

“What did you do?”

“I prayed for you and for myself. Come to the stateroom–I have something to tell you.”

“Tell it here,” said Nurse Jennings in a more positive tone.

“No, it might hurt you, and others will notice. Come quick, please, or my courage will fail.”

“Can’t I hear it to-night–” She was comfortable where she was and remembered the narrow, steep steps to the lower deck.

“No! come now–and QUICK.”

At the tone of agony in the Sister’s voice Miss Jennings scrutinized her companion’s face. Her trained ear had caught an indrawn, fluttering sob which she recognized as belonging to a certain form of hysteria. Brooding over her troubles, combined with the effects of the sea air, had unstrung the dear Sister’s nerves.

“Yes, certainly,” assented Miss Jennings. “Let me take your arm–step carefully, and lean on me.”

On reaching the stateroom, Sister Teresa waited until Miss Jennings had entered, then she locked the door and pulled the curtains close.

“Listen, Miss Jennings, before you judge me. You remember yesterday how I pleaded with you to help me find a bedroom where I could be alone. You would not, and I could do nothing but let matters take their course. Fate has placed me in your hands. When you said that you were on the lookout for me and that you knew Hobson, the detective, I knew that all was lost unless your heart went out to me. I know him, too. I faced his eyes when I came aboard. I staggered with fright and caught at the ropes, but he did not suspect–I saw in his face that he did not. He may still trace me and arrest me when I land. If anybody comes for me, say you met me in the hospital where you work.”

Nurse Jennings stood staring into the woman’s eyes. Her first impulse was to ring the bell for the Steward and send for the ship’s doctor. Sudden insanity, the result of acute hysteria, was not uncommon in women leading sedentary lives who had gone through a heavy strain, and the troubles of this poor Sister had, she saw, unseated her reason.

“Don’t talk so–calm yourself. No one is seeking you. You ought to lie down. Come–“

“Yes, I know you think I am crazy–I am crazy–crazy from a horrible fear that stares me in the face–from a spectre that–“

“Sister, you MUST lie down! I’ll ring for the Doctor and he–“

Sister Teresa sprang forward and caught the hand of the Nurse before it touched the bell.

“Stop! STOP!–or all will be lost! I am not a Sister–I am the scene-painter–the father of that girl! See!” He threw back his hood, uncovering his head and exposed his short-cropped hair.

Nurse Jennings turned quickly and looked her companion searchingly in the face. The surprise had been so great that for an instant her breath left her. Then slowly the whole situation rushed over and upon her. This man had made use of her privacy–had imposed upon her–tricked her.

“And you–you have dared to come into this room, making me believe you were a woman–and lied to me about your Hour of Silence and all the–“

“It was the only way I could be safe. You and everybody else would detect me if I did not shave and fix up my face. You said a minute ago the dark rings had gone from my eyes–it is this paint-box that did it. Think of what it would mean to me to be taken–and my little girl! Don’t–don’t judge me wrongly. When I get to New York I promise never to see you again–no one will ever know. If you had been my own sister I could not have treated you with more respect since I have been in the room. I will do anything you wish–to-night I will sleep on the floor–anything, if–“