He over-tired himself in taking a walk this morning, and
has been resting in his room all the afternoon."
Charlotte Ruston, adjusting a smart little veil before Ellen's mirror,
her back to her friend, asked, after a moment's pause:
"Dr. Leaver? Not Dr. John Leaver, of Baltimore?"
"Yes, indeed. Do you know him?"
"I have met him. Is he ill? I hadn't heard of that."
"He has worked very hard, and is worn out," explained Ellen, choosing her
terms carefully. Her husband had warned her against allowing any definite
news concerning Leaver to get back to his home city. "He is improving,
and we are keeping him here because it is a place where he can be out of
the world, for a time, and not be called upon to go back before he
should. So please don't mention to your Baltimore friends that he is
here. I am ever so sorry, if you know him, that he wasn't down to-day. It
might have done him good to see the face of an acquaintance."
"It might be too stimulating for him," suggested Miss Ruston. She seemed
difficult to satisfy in the matter of the veil's adjustment. Though she
had had it fastened, she now took it off and began again to arrange it.
"Can't I help you?" Ellen offered, coming close.
"Thank you, I can manage it. I had it too tight. I suppose your guest
will be gone before I come back?"
"I don't know.
Pages:
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139