Jane shook her head. “No, dear—I haven’t any—and I’m sure you don’t need it. I’ll make you some strong tea. Oh, I’m so glad you came, Cary!”
The young man seemed to try to smile—but the smile looked more like tears. He held up a shaking hand.
“Nerves—Jane—nerves. I’m all in—I’m a wreck. I’m——” His look wavered around at Black, who stood above and behind him. “We’ll excuse you, sir,” he said, with an effort at dignity. “I’m very much obliged to you—and now—please go!”
Jane looked up at Black with a face into which the quick and lovely colour poured in a flood. “My brother isn’t himself,” she said under her breath. “Do forgive him. I’m so grateful to you. I can get on with him nicely now.”
“I can surely be of service to you yet, Miss Ray,” Black said with decision. “Your brother needs care, and I can help you make him comfortable.”
She shook her head. “I can do all he needs,” she said, “and it’s late. I can’t——”
And then Cary Ray decided things for himself by sitting up and pointing with a shaking finger and a voice of fright toward a shadowy corner. “What’s that!” he whispered. “What’s that? You haven’t got ’em here, too, have you? I thought you wouldn’t have ’em—not you!”
There was nothing in the corner. Black laid young Ray gently but firmly down upon the couch again. “No, you’re mistaken,” he said quietly. “We haven’t got them here—and we’re not going to have them. Trust me for that—I know all about it.”
Across the dark head, again fallen weakly upon the couch pillow, Black’s eyes met Jane’s. “Please let me stay awhile?” he urged.
She knew then that he knew, and that it was of no use to try to hide the pitiful, shameful thing from him. She nodded and turned away, and he saw her clench one hand tight as she went to Cary’s bag and opened it. He saw her search through the bag, and take from it something which he did not see, because she went out of the room with it. She was gone some time. While she was away, he occupied himself with keeping Cary’s attention from concentrating on that corner of which his suspicions became now and then acute.