“I will,” Jane agreed. “He has seen Cary before. If I could only have had him last night, and spared you—I shouldn’t feel so guilty this morning. Why——” and at this moment, for the first time, a recognition came to her. It left her a little stunned. “Mr. Black,” she said, unhappily, “I’m just realizing what day this is. It’s——”
“Yes, it’s Sunday,” admitted Black, smiling, “And none the worse for that, is it?”
“But—you have to preach—and you’ve been up all night!”
“I suppose it’s because I’m a Scot, but—I’ve seldom left my sermons till Saturday and Sunday to prepare. I’m all armed and equipped, Miss Ray—you’ve nothing to regret.”
“But you haven’t slept—you’re frightfully tired——”
“Do I look as haggard as that? If I do, it’s only because I need a clean shave. Come—if you weren’t tied up I’d challenge you to go to church and see if I can’t hit from the shoulder, in spite of my lusty right arm’s getting numb for ten minutes in your service. Good-by, for the present, Miss Ray. I shall call you up, later, to learn if the Doctor’s been here. And I shall—make friends with your brother the very best I know how.”
He looked straight down into her uplifted eyes as he shook hands—with no lingering or extra pressure this time, just the hard, comradely grasp it was his nature to give. Then he was gone, out into the early morning twilight, without a glance to right or left to see if any saw him go.
An hour later Red came in, looked the situation over, and commented brusquely:
“You must have had a—an Inferno—of a night with him.”
“I didn’t—because I wasn’t alone. Mr. Black stayed all night and took care of him.”