Her Last Stake, Chapters I-V [pp. 815-839]

HER LAST STAKE.
some indication which might guide her. " Nazareth nuns,
Little Sisters of the Poor, Sceurs de Nevers-you seem to look
a little like each, and yet to be unlike all."
"Well, we are a new nursing order, founded not many
years ago our foundress still lives-with houses in England
and in Italy; and we have been sent out from the latter coun try to collect subscriptions all along this line."
"Principally from the English visitors, I suppose?"
"Well, yes; for we are not very strong in French, either
of us." And the good-tempered Irishwoman smiled across to
her companion in placid contentment with her own linguistic
shortcomings. So they chatted on for awhile of their houses,
their order, and their work; and then they rose to go, as Mrs.
Mortimer pulled out her purse.
"Here is my little offering, sisters," she said, as she laid a
small gold piece in Sister Raphael's hand. "I wish it were
more, for I feel quite interested in your work; but you know
even a quiet, lone body like myself has many calls on the
purse."
"Do you stay here long?" asked Sister Raphael of her, just,
as it seemed, for the sake of conversation as she ushered them
across the big, palm-decked hall.
"I have been here all the winter for my health, but I am
leaving to-morrow. By the bye, how did you come to hear of
me?" she asked, stopping short in the middle of the hall with
an amused glance back at them.
"Oh! we manage to hunt up all the English names everywhere-you are the only English person now in this hotel, are
you not?"
"Yes. There are still a good many people here, but none
of them English-except-ah, yes!..." She stopped short
as she caught sight of two men advancing towards them, who
were whispering gravely and earnestly together.
"Bon jour, Monsieur Grosjean," she called out pleasantly
to one of the two-a big, heavy-looking Frenchman, who was
knitting his brows and biting his lips in evident perplexity as
his companion talked. "How does Monsieur le M6dicin find
his patient to-day?"
Monsieur Grosjean, who in fact was no less than the proprietor of the hotel, advanced towards the little group, slowly
shaking his head.
"Ah, madame, it is a terrible business a dreadful thing
indeed, for me."
816
[Mar.,