"The agent's out of town," he said, "and we don't need him anyway. He said he'd do anything you wanted, in reason."
Dr. Bellair watched with keen interest the effect of her somewhat daring description, as Miss Orella stepped from room to room examining everything with a careful eye, with an expression of growing generalship. Sue fluttered about delightedly, discovering advantages everywhere and making occasional disrespectful remarks to Vivian about Dr. Hale's clothes.
"Looks as if he never saw a clothes brush!" she said. "A finger out on his glove, a button off his coat. No need to tell us there's no woman in his house!"
"You can decide about your cook when you've tried her," he said to Miss Elder. "I engaged her for a week—on trial. She's in the kitchen now, and will have your dinner ready presently. I think you'll like her, if——"
"Good boy!" said Dr. Bellair. "Sometimes you show as much sense as a woman—almost."
"What's the 'if'" asked Miss Orella, looking worried.
"Question of character," he answered. "She's about forty-five, with a boy of sixteen or so. He's not over bright, but a willing worker. She's a good woman—from one standpoint. She won't leave that boy nor give him up to strangers; but she has a past!"
"What is her present?" Dr. Bellair asked, "that's the main thing."
Dr. Hale clapped her approvingly on the shoulder, but looked doubtingly toward Miss Orella.