Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-24
napier XAAl
Distrust.

Miss Lambert returned about II
o'clock, and Nan went Immediately to
her room.
Would you mind coming in to look
at Muriel?" she asked anxiously. II
don't think she has fever. but she
sneezed twice, and I wondered II she
were taking cold"
Miss Lambert smiled comfortingly.
How comforting these nurses were
anyway. They always seemed to
know exactly what to do in an emer-
gency. and yet they were always 50
calm.
Nan waited while Miss Lambert re-
moved her outer things and got into
her uniform. She couldn't wait to see
her bending over the bassinet. 0
And, Miss Lambert. bnttoning her
self into her apron and pinning on her
cap, had her thoughts as well.
She knew Mans story. It had come
to her mainly through the servants
gossip. But being a rather stolid type
of woman, she couldn't understand
Mans attitude. Why should she cling
morbidly to thoughts of the past ?
Here was this wonderful man who
had done evrything for her. and
plainly adored her. Why didn't she
make up her mind to forget her for
mer husband? Miss Lambert thought
Mr.. Lee wonderful. Not only that,
but he was rich. She considered Nan
lucky girl. Any poor girl who mar
ried rich husband was fortunate.
Nan had changed to a neglige. 1t
was of pale yellow and had little gar
lands of pink rosebuds sewed all over
it. Miss Lambert could not help feel
ing stab Of jealousy as she followed
Nan down the hall. Through the filmy
material her slender figure was out
lined. Miss Lambert could not help
feeling a certain resentment because
of her own buxomness. She longed
to be frail and slender like Mrs. Lee.
but it seemed impossible to attain.
Once in the bedroom, however, Miss
Lambert forgot all personal things.
She was all nurse.
With practiced fingers she felt the
baby's fingers and forehead, saw that
small Muriel was sleeping quietly and
was perfectly all right, and lifted her
head with a reassuring smile.
Nothing wrong. Babies often
sneeze, you know
In her sudden reaction of feeling,
Nan could have flung her arms around
Miss Lambert's neck. Without warn
ing the tears rushed to her eyes.
"Oh, thank you, I've been SO wor-
ried. Fevers terrify me. since,
since" Her words trailed away,
and Miss Lambert was suddenly
ashamed Of her feelings of a moment
ago.
Her tone. when she spoke, was prac-
teal, however. She knew that to sym
pathize with Nan would bring on a
flood of tears. Miss Lambert was a
good nurse, If she didn't happen to be
an enchantress where men were con-
cerned.
Muriel was walked out of her sleep
TO have her bottle, and after that Miss
Lambert departed, leaving Nan TO her
own thoughts, which, OF course, turn
ed Immediately TO Martin
Strange that he hadn't told her
where he was going. The more she
thought of 1t the more it struck her as
unfair. And yet why should IL matter
TO her one way or another? 1t wasn't
as II she cared for Martin. She didn't
care. and she bitterly regretted the in
cident that had taken place before
dirner.
Her thoughts dwelt for time on
that.
She had never thought Of him as a
passionate man. desiring her, needing
her. Somehow it put things between
them on q different footing. 1t placed
her more than ever in his debt. She
didn't want that, and she would try.
oh. so hard, to care, If he would be
patient. She wondered IL her lack of
response had been the reason for his
refusing to tell her where he was GO
ing.
1t was nearly IL when she heard his
key in the lock and sprang to her feet