K. spent all of the evening of that day with Wilson. He was not to go for
Joe until eleven o'clock. The injured man's vitality was standing him in
good stead. He had asked for Sidney and she was at his bedside. Dr. Ed
had gone.

"I'm going, Max. The office is full, they tell me," he said, bending over
the bed. "I'll come in later, and if they'll make me a shakedown, I'll
stay with you to-night."

The answer was faint, broken but distinct. "Get some sleep...I've been a
poor stick...try to do better--" His roving eyes fell on the dog collar on
the stand. He smiled, "Good old Bob!" he said, and put his hand over Dr.
Ed's, as it lay on the bed.

K. found Sidney in the room, not sitting, but standing by the window. The
sick man was dozing. One shaded light burned in a far corner. She turned
slowly and met his eyes. It seemed to K. that she looked at him as if she
had never really seen him before, and he was right. Readjustments are
always difficult.

Sidney was trying to reconcile the K. she had known so well with this new
K., no longer obscure, although still shabby, whose height had suddenly
become presence, whose quiet was the quiet of infinite power.

She was suddenly shy of him, as he stood looking down at her. He saw the
gleam of her engagement ring on her finger. It seemed almost defiant. As
though she had meant by wearing it to emphasize her belief in her lover.