I told you at the time what that
purpose was--in part: to be near Sebastian. I want to be near him... for
an object I have at heart. Do not ask me to reveal it; do not ask me to
forego it. I am a woman, therefore weak. But I need your aid. Help me,
instead of hindering me."
"Hilda," I cried, leaning forward, with quiverings of my heart, "I will
help you in whatever way you will allow me. But let me at any rate help
you with the feeling that I am helping one who means in time--"
At that moment, as unkindly fate would have it, the door opened, and
Sebastian entered.
"Nurse Wade," he began, in his iron voice, glancing about him with stern
eyes, "where are those needles I ordered for that operation? We must be
ready in time before Nielsen comes.... Cumberledge, I shall want you."
The golden opportunity had come and gone. It was long before I found a
similar occasion for speaking to Hilda.
Every day after that the feeling deepened upon me that Hilda was there
to watch Sebastian. WHY, I did not know; but it was growing certain
that a life-long duel was in progress between these two--a duel of some
strange and mysterious import.
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