The answer was really simple, for she wanted to be next Donovan, and wasn't, and she was all the while scheming how to get there.

But Peter did not tumble to that; he felt an ass and very uncomfortable, and he broke into open revolt.
He looked steadily towards the chairs.

The back of the girl who had looked at him was towards him now, for she was talking sideways to somebody; but he noted an empty chair just next her, and that her uniform was not that of the nurses of this hospital.

He felt confident that she would look again, and he was not disappointed.

Instantly he made up his mind, nodded, and reached for his cap.