CHAPTER XXXIII. THE DECREE OF FATE
ON his arrival in London, Mountjoy went to the Nurses' Institute to inquire for Mrs. Vimpany.
She was again absent, in attendance on another patient. The address of the house (known only to the matron) was, on this occasion, not to be communicated to any friend who might make inquiries. A bad case of scarlet fever had been placed under the nurse's care, and the danger of contagion was too serious to be trifled with.
The events which had led to Mrs. Vimpany's present employment had not occurred in the customary course.
A nurse who had recently joined the Institute had been first engaged to undertake the case, at the express request of the suffering person—who was said to be distantly related to the young woman. On the morning when she was about to pr
