His eyes followed her with rapt interest as she approached the counter.
"You wish me to sign for my prescription ?" she asked the chemist.

"I will do so, with pleasure, if it is necessary, only you must not keep me waiting long." Her voice was very low and very musical; the slight smile which had parted her tired lips, was almost pathetic.

Even the chemist felt himself to be a human being.

He turned at once to his shelves and began to prepare the drug.
"I am sorry, madam, that it should have been necessary to fetch you in," he said, apologetically.

"My assistant will give you the book if you will kindly sign it." The assistant dived beneath the counter, reappearing almost immediately with a black volume and a pen and ink.