"Kate—dear—don't you think it may be better for him to meet it as a thing already done, no room for discussion?"
"Oh, I don't know, John. He—it's not for me to say."
"But you know I wish to hear whatever you think."
"I—don't know. Some-way, it don't seem...."
"You think he may be angry with me?"
"I never saw Ben angry. Could be, I vow, if he was hurt."
"And you think this may hurt him, too much?"
"I—don't know, John. It seemed right to you, and—oh dearie me——"
"Well, there, never mind. It's done. I sha'n't tell him till tomorrow. Nor Reuben of course, seeing I can't burden him with the obligation to keep a secret from his brother.... I was obliged to cross Ben in one other particular—maybe it a'n't important. He put in a good word once or twice for Mr. Shawn, you see, to replace poor Jan. I considered it. I like Shawn well enough—I suppose. But then yesterday—ay, Sunday it was—Reuben said something, to me alone, that gave me pause."
"Reuben did! John, I—did not like that Mr. Shawn."