He drove straight downtown and ordered flowers for her. Remembering
the nun's dress, he sent violets in a gray basket, with a knot on the
handle of heavenly blue.
The flowers came while Jean was at dinner. Emily was in Hilda's place,
a quiet contrast in her slenderness and modest black to Hilda's
opulence. Dr. McKenzie had not had time to dress.
"I am so busy, Emily."
"But you love the busy-ness, don't you? I can't imagine you without
the hours crammed full."
"Just now I wish that I could push it away as Richards pushed it--"
Jean looked up. "But Dr. Richards went to France, Daddy."
"I envy him."
"Oh, do you--?" Then her flowers came, and she forgot everything else.
The Doctor whistled as Julia set the basket in front of Jean. "Ralph
is generous."
Jean had opened the attached envelope and was reading a card. A wave
of self-conscious color swept over her cheeks. "Ralph didn't send
them. It--it was Derry Drake."
"Drake? How did that happen?"
"He was here this afternoon for tea, and Ralph, and Emily--only Emily
was late, and the tea was cold--"
"So you've made up?"
"We didn't have to make up much, Daddy, did we?" mendaciously.
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