The sculptor regarded him with evident surprise, yet with a look so keen that Maurice felt his cheeks grow warm.
"Does that mean," Herman asked with kindly deliberation, "that you are tired and out of sorts, or is it something deeper?"
Wynne was silent a moment. Now that he had broken the ice, he feared to go on. It was something of a shock to find himself on the brink of a confidence when he had not intended to make one.
"I'm afraid it goes deep," he answered. "The truth is, Mr. Herman, that
I've come back with my whole mind in a turmoil."
Herman seemed to hesitate in his turn.
"I'm afraid I'm a poor one to help you, Mr. Wynne. Mrs. Herman does the mental straightening-out for this family. Besides, we look at things so differently, you and I, that I shouldn't know how to put things to you if I tried."
"I've no right to bother anybody with my troubles," Maurice said.
"That anybody could help you would give you a claim upon him," Herman responded cheerily. "I noticed, Mr. Wynne, that things were not going right with you before you went away. May I give you a piece of advice?"
"I shall be glad if you will."
"Then if I were you, I'd go and talk with Mr. Strathmore."