It looked mighty desolate.

But though all the blooms had gone, there were a myriad buds which next week would burst into happy flower.

And the sacrifice seemed trivial, almost ironical; for in Betty's heart there were no buds left.
After lunch I went to the hospital for the weekly committee meeting.

To my amazement the first person I met in the corridor was Betty--Betty, white as wax, with black rings round unnaturally shining eyes.

She waited for me to wheel myself up to her.