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live—and be glad to live. You’re going to know what it feels like to ease the pain of others—to forget yourself in service for others. You’re going to realise how much you don’t amount to in this wicked world; and your aunty Buzzy is going to teach you.”

Patricia laughed mirthlessly.

“I don’t mind helping you, Buzzy, if you’re rushed with business,” she replied, rising, “but I have no desire to help myself———”

Buzzy made an indescribable noise. She was struggling to fasten her stiff uniform collar.

“Shut up!” she snapped. “And come and fasten this damn thing!”

Patricia fastened the collar obediently, her spirits rising involuntarily in the breezy contact with the exuberant Buzzy.

“If I make a mess of things, Buzzy———”

“You won’t have a chance, old thing. I don’t want you to run about with bandages and things like that. I merely want you to try to quiet a patient who disturbs all the others. She stays quiet while someone talks to her, but I’m terribly short-handed with this Napier rush. The staff hasn’t time to sit around, I can tell you.”

“What am I to say to her? I’ve never———”

“It will come to you naturally. Don’t worry about that. Take off your hat, and I’ll show you where she is.”

Buzzy’s was an overmastering personality. Patricia offered no more objections. She removed her hat, threw it upon the bed carelessly, and followed the big woman from the room.

They went upstairs and along a corridor off which opened small rooms. They passed two nurses hurrying about their duties. Buzzy nodded to them curtly. They seemed not to notice Patricia. The place reeked of antiseptics, and muffled cries and groans of pain were heard on either hand.

“Crowded out with cases from Hastings and Napier,” explained Buzzy. “Some of them pretty bad.”