“Here’s a box of candy,” he said briefly, and turned toward the other door.
“Len, old man—” Evan began.
“Leonard!” cried Marian. “Oh, you splendid boy!”
“I knew he was a genius!” cried Aunt Jean.
He could not speak just then. He went into the dining room to escape; but Violet came after him. He turned and faced her.
“Vi!” he said. “I’m—I’m sorry.”
She held out her hand with a friendly smile, but somehow the friendliness vanished. It turned into another sort of look, such as he had never yet seen on any face.
“Vi,” he said, “why didn’t you tell me about Aunt Jean?”
“I hated to, Leonard. You—you do feel things so. You’d have been so upset. You have said that life was unjust, and—you’re such an idealist, Len!”
“What?” said Leonard. “You think I’m like that?”