Her hand groped in the chair for the bag and found it--and she held it
out, laughing at her mistake.
The two men smiled.
"So stupid--in me!" She took out a tiny handkerchief and shook it and
the faintest scent of violets flew about the room.
The door opened. It was Miss Canfield, with a glass of water on a small
round tray. She came across to the millionaire. "It is medicine time,"
she said quietly.
The millionaire drank it off and returned the glass to the tray and
thanked her.
She looked down at him. "Is there anything else--you would like?" There
was a clear, faint color in her cheeks, like a rose-leaf.
The widow's eye rested on it.
"Nothing, thank you," said Medfield.
"You have sat up a little longer than the doctor said-- You must not get
too tired."
She left the room, carrying the little tray lightly before her, moving
with noiseless step.
Three pairs of eyes watched her from the room.
"They take good care of you, don't they?" said Mrs. Cawein
patronizingly. Her eyes were still reflectively on the door.
"The best of care!" responded Medfield.
"Well--" she sighed brightly and shook the handkerchief. "I think I was
told to go?" She nodded archly. "Yes--she told me!-- I feel sure of it!"
She got up. "You must get well fast!" Her hand touched his lightly and
whisked away, and the violet scent was wafted about him.
She moved toward the door, drawing Julian into her wake.
Herman Medfield's eyes watched them. His lips grew a little compressed.
"You have forgotten your hat, Julian," he said sharply.
The boy glanced back over his shoulder and flashed a smile at him. "I'm
seeing Mrs. Cawein to her car. I'll be back in a minute, sir----"
She murmured deprecation as they went. "You really--do not need to come
with me, Julian."
"But I want to," said the young man. He shifted his feet quickly and
caught step with her as she plumed along beside him.
"Your father's looking very well!" she said.
"Isn't he!" The reply was absent.
She glanced at him sharply. "You must come and see me--I have missed
you!"
His eye went past her to the car that was waiting. "It is very kind in
you," he murmured.
She tripped a little on the step and he caught her arm to save her.
She glowed to him. "Be sure to come," she said softly. "We must take up
old times."
Julian looked at her and smiled ever so faintly.
He opened the door of the car and put her in and bowed ceremoniously and
closed the door. She nodded brightly through the window.... The car
rolled away.
He stood looking after it, smiling with a little amusement. Then he ran
lightly up the steps.
The long corridor lighted by a great window stretched before him, and a
figure at the end was outlined against it--a slender figure that carried
itself very light and straight. She was walking from him, her face
toward the window, and the white uniform and the cap glowed softly....
The reddish hair under the cap caught little glints of light. He watched
till the figure disappeared in the distance. Then he turned to the door
of Suite A.
The light of the reddish, shining hair was still in his face as he came
in.
Medfield grunted and stirred a little in his chair. He glanced at the
absorbed face.
"You find her attractive?" he said dryly.
The young man stared at him. He had forgotten Julia Cawein and her car;
he had forgotten everything except the window of the long lighted hall
and the girl's head lifted against it.
"I think she is charming!" he cried.
"Don't you?" he added after a little, uncomfortable pause.
"No," said his father shortly.
"What is the matter with her?" asked the boy. He was watching his
father's face.
"Nothing is the matter if you don't happen to see it."
"I don't!"
The man was silent a minute. "Sherwood Cawein died of a broken heart,"
he said at last.
The boy stared. Then the look in his face broke and danced. "I was not
thinking of Mrs. Cawein," he said quietly.
"You were not speaking of Julia Cawein?" His father sat up, his hands on
the arms of his chair, and looked at him.
"No, I was not thinking of Mrs. Cawein. I'll tell you some day, Father,
what I was thinking of. But--" he looked at him straight. "I'd like you
to trust me a little if you will, please."