In the Valley of the Shadow | Page 5

which, of course, you must have formed."
She threw him a quick glance. "Ah, my friend," he thought exultingly, "you have a temper, then!" But in an instant it was gone.
"I have told you all I was able to tell," she said evenly. "I have been here but a short time, you know."
She turned and left the hall, and he, chafing under a sense of merited rebuke, conscious of a foolish petulance, went discontentedly into the library. He seemed to be continually at fault with Miss Strong, but unable to resist the effort to master her.
The evening was very lonely and still. Peter had gone to his room early, and the children had effaced themselves: Susy was with them. Aunt Lucia read the "Imitation of Christ," by the fire. Bel-den's mind turned unconsciously to the old days when Caddy and he dreamed out their future in the nursery. It had all come out just as she had planned, except this. Poor little Caddy--a fighting chance!
The next morning seemed to fly by them: it was nine o'clock, ten, eleven.
At this hour a feverish activity suddenly spread through the house. They met and passed each other, hurrying, troubled, secretive; the servants stumbled and quarrelled in their purposeless haste. To Belden, quieting when he could, sternly optimistic everywhere, at heart heavy and uncertain, it seemed that the one anchor of their hopes was this calm, clear-eyed woman in her uniform of authority!
Peter hung pathetically on her lightest word; the children, dazed and terrified, ate and exercised at her command; his own boy, a strange hard look in his furtive eyes, followed her like a dog, and Aunt Lucia submitted with unprecedented meekness to an abrupt curtailment of her interview with Clarice. He himself went into the bedroom for a moment, half uncertain of the reality of the experience. It was absurd to remember that he might never see her, conscious, again--his own little Caddy.
He sat awkwardly on the side of the bed.
"Well, little woman, how goes it?"
"Queen's taste, Will!"
"Good for you! I'm proud of the Beldens, Caddy--Billy acts like a drum-major."
Her eyes softened.
"The dear boy," she murmured. Their eyes met. "Look after him," hers said, and his, "As long as I live!" He stooped and kissed her lightly. "Mind you look as well as this to-morrow!"
"Oh, I shall be all right. Miss Strong will take care of me. When I think how I have the best of everything--such care--I've been a very happy woman, Will dear."
His eyes filled. He threw her a kiss and went out blindly.
A hand touched his arm. "You've done her good," said the nurse softly. "You stayed just long enough. She'll take her nap now."
He went heavily into his own room. Below him a little porch led out from the smoking-room, and as he sat lost in a miserable reverie, voices rose from it to his window.
"Nobody knows what she's been to me. As much like a mother as I'd let her. I did everything but the cigarettes, and I meant to tell her I'd do that too, next month--that's her birthday."
Was this his boy, that pleading, shaken voice? He looked out: the lad was fingering Miss Strong's white apron nervously. She leaned over the railing of the little porch, her hand on his shoulder.
"You tell her about it--I'll never smoke another one. It was the last thing she asked me."
"I'll tell her--she will be so pleased, I know. She asked about you yesterday. I'll let you know as soon as I can."
Belden, a little later, hurried downstairs, with a confused idea of thanking her. On the threshold of the library he paused, amazed. Dr. Hitchcock sat before a small green baize table, studying five playing-cards held fan-shape in his left hand. Opposite him sat Miss Strong, holding the pack expectantly.
"You can give me two, my dear, I think," he said as Belden entered. Looking up, he smiled apologetically.
"I dare say you are surprised," he suggested, "but I have been much exasperated, Mr. Belden, and a long experience has taught me that nothing so quickly clears the mind as throwing a few hands of poker. Miss Strong--an invaluable person--is kindly assisting me. Did I say three? Yes, of course. Thank you. We are playing for beans only, you see."
Belden watched them curiously. She sat as imperturbably as by Caddy's bedside, her eyes fixed thoughtfully on her cards.
"--And raise you three," she said.
"Five more. You will excuse me, Belden, but your aunt, Mrs. Wetherly, is a somewhat unusually irritating woman. I'll see you, Miss Strong--ah, yes, two pair, queens up."
"What has she done?"
"She insists that Mrs. Moore shall not only see Mr. Burchard, to which I have not the least objection, but that he shall hold a communion service, directly, there. Now, if your sister had asked for this herself, it