In the Valley of the Shadow | Page 5

is a
magnificent surgeon."
Before her non-committal eyes his own fell baffled. He was more
irritated than he cared to own. Could she not see that he was prepared
for anything, that his self-control was as great as her own? She treated
him like a child; those professional reserves, necessary, doubtless, in
the case of Peter and his excitable sister, were wasted on him. Why
could she not see it?
"I am quite aware of Dr. Jameson's skill," he said coldly, "but I had
hoped that you would find yourself able to break through the
professional attitude sufficiently to give me your real opinion, 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