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and, a pleasant homeward trip, and almost as soon as we were back we would be married. It was in a kind of a sort of a way a case of putting the cart before the horse honeymoon first and marriage afterwards."
"So far there hasn't been much honeymoon for me."
"Or for me either but we'll make up for it. We'll be married when we do get back, and have a real proper honeymoon afterwards. You mark my words and see."
"That's a sensible way to look at it no makebelieve the real thing. Then you'll be in the Land of Sunshine, and be happy ever afterwards."
This was Nurse Ada. Not long after that sapient remark Miss Fraser took her leave, being advised by the nurse that a further stay on the occasion of her first visit might be bad for the patient. So the worrying pair parted being left alone by the nurse for quite a minute to permit of their approaching as near as possible to a proper lover-like parting.
A few remarks were exchanged by the nurse and visitor as the latter was going. The visitor began; she was wiping her eyes.
"He does seem frightfully ill."
"He's been worse; as near dead as makes no difference. He's making a grand recovery."
"Grand, you call it! I wonder what you'd feel like if he belonged to you."
Nurse Ada considered a moment before she spoke.
"No man ever has belonged to me, or ever will. My work is my husband; we are joined till death us do part. But I think, if he did belong to me, and were on the road to a complete recovery complete recovery, mind! I should be grateful to God Almighty."
"Grateful!" Miss Fraser distinctly sniffed. "There's not much gratitude about me. If he were your property do you think five hundred pounds would pay you for what he's gone through, and has to go through yet?"
"Five hundred pounds? That's two thousand five hundred dollars. No, I don't think it would."
"And it won't pay me." Miss Fraser sniffed again. "I've been the most perfect gaby there ever was, but if they think I'm an utter