“Petersen,” he answered.
“The man—the man that Minnie——?”
“Her husband; yes. Are you ready?”
The man came abreast of him, and began walking by his side with weary and heavy steps.
“Is she so very ill?” he asked.
“No-oo,” said Petersen. “Not very. Can’t look for perfect health, I suppose, in her condition.”
“There’s a baby coming in a few weeks, you know.”
He was surprised her brother hadn’t noticed; then reflected that he had only seen her in the dark.
“The doctor tells me there’s no cause for worry,” he went on. He was curiously anxious to reassure the fellow; he was moved by a great pity for him which he could not have explained. Simply that his voice, his manner, the very atmosphere about him, seemed tragic and terrible.