"You're doing pretty well, now," responded Aunt Jane.
"Fair." His tone was cautious. He was not to be inveigled into
acknowledging complete recovery--yet. His glance travelled out over the
roofs--and he started and leaned forward.
"I believe that is my place--over there!" He was pointing off into the
haze where a greenhouse caught the sun on its glass and flashed back
from the distance.
She nodded toward it. "That's your place, yes. I was noticing it the
other day--when Julian and Mary Canfield went out there. I happened to
be up here--and looked off and saw it." She regarded the flashing glass
in the haze.
"It's quite a ways off," she said.
"Not very far--with a machine." His tone was aggressive and a little
masterful. It seemed to pick her up and whirl her away through
distance. Aunt Jane's face was meek.
"I'm glad you've got along so fast," she replied.
He regarded her suspiciously.
"And having your own car so--you won't mind the trip----"
"I'm not going!" said Medfield. He was chuckling a little.
She turned a distressed face to him. "I don't see how we're going to
manage--if you don't!"
"I am not in anybody's way," said Medfield.... "I'll be good!" He was
watching her expressive face.
"Yes, you're good! You are always good!" Aunt Jane's diplomacy was at
its best.
He laughed out.
"You see--we need your room--your suite."
"What for?-- I pay as much as anybody, don't I?" He turned on her
quickly.
"You pay more.... Don't you remember I told you about that?"
"Yes." He recalled the facts. "I'm to pay for a Mrs. Pelton, too."
"That's it. I let you pay for her----"
"Thank you"--a little ironical and smiling.
"_She_ wants to thank _you_," said Aunt Jane quietly. "I told her you'd
let her."
"Keep her away!" He put out his hand to ward it off. "I've made out a
check for her--you remind me to give it to you."
"A check?"
"You said she could use a hundred dollars," he replied.
"Now, wasn't that good in you!" She beamed on him and on his goodness.
He received it complacently. "I only wish there were something more I
could do--for you." He said it carefully. He did not look at her now. He
wanted to be sure she took it in--and he did not want to flustrate the
meek quiet of her face.
A little light crept into the face--half guilty. "I've been planning to
ask you for something," she said, "kind of screwing up my courage."
"Ask away--what is it?" He looked at her as Ahasuerus may have looked on
Esther.
"You sit down, Mr. Medfield," said Aunt Jane.
"Is it as bad as that?" He laughed and sat down, regarding her
quizzically.
"Go ahead!"
"It's a new wing--" said Aunt Jane.
"One of yours worn out?" Pretended astonishment and happiness was in the
tone and she smiled at him tolerantly.
"It's for contagion-- It will cost fifty thousand dollars-- I thought
maybe you'd like to give it." She flung the words at him. She had been
meaning to do it all day--"screwing up her courage" to it.... She fired
her bomb and she watched, waiting for it to go off. She sat alert and
anxious.