She
elects to stay here."
"But why?"
"She's a--woman."
"You don't mean that. And I must say that I am rather glad that she is
not going."
It was out at last! She had a feeling as if she had taken a cold
plunge and had survived it!
"Glad? What do you mean, Emily?"
"Every time I waked in the night, I thought of Jean and of how she
would feel if Hilda went with you. Do you realize that if she goes,
there are things that the world will say?"
His face was stern. "You are very brave to tell me that, Emily."
"It had to be said, and last night I shirked it."
"But Hilda is a very good nurse."
"Do you think of her only as a--good nurse?"
He turned that over in his mind. "No. In a sense she's rather
attractive. She satisfies a certain side of me--."
"The best side?"
He avoided an answer to that. "When she is away I miss her."
And now Miss Emily, shaking a little, but not showing it, made him face
the situation squarely.
"Have you ever thought that, missing her, you might want to marry her?"
"I have thought of it. Why not, Emily?"
"Have you thought that it would make her your Jean's--mother--?"
His startled look met her steadfast one.
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