“What?” The quick question spoke incredulity. Red stared at her.
“He brought Cary from the station, and then stayed—because—he thought he was needed. I don’t know quite what I should have done without him.”
Red whistled. “You bet you don’t. Well, well—the minister certainly is game. Didn’t worry about what some old lady of the parish might think, eh?”
Jane drew herself up. “You don’t mean that, Doctor Burns.”
He laughed. “No, I don’t mean that. There was every reason why he should ignore any such possibility—I understand the situation exactly. But I think it was rather game of him, just the same. A case like Cary’s isn’t exactly a joke to take care of, and the average outsider gets out from under—and sends flowers to show his sympathy—or a bottle of whisky, according to his lights. Well—to go back to this precious brother of yours——”
“That is the right adjective,” said Jane Ray, steadily. “You know perfectly well, Doctor Burns, he’s all I have.”
“Yes, I know.” He returned the look. “And I’ll do my best to put him on his feet again. But he needs something neither you nor I can give him. I’m inclined to think—and this is something of a concession for me to make, Jane—I’m inclined to think Robert Black could. Cary’s a dreamer—and a weak one. Bob Black’s a dreamer—but a strong one. If he could get Cary to—well—to dream the right sort of dream—— You see, it’s a case where a knowledge of psychology might take a hand where a knowledge of pathology falls down. Do you get me?”
“I think I do. You want me to—encourage an acquaintance between them?”
“That’s exactly what I mean. I know you’re no church-goer, my dear—and I admit I’ve never been much of a one myself. I feel a bit differently of late—perhaps you can guess why. If you could get Cary under the influence of this man Black—a friendship between them might do the trick. Anyhow, don’t lay any stones in the way out of fear of putting yourself under obligations to Black. I’ve discovered that he’s happiest when he’s doing some absolutely impossible thing for somebody to whom he’s under no obligation to do it. People take advantage of a disposition like that—but he can’t exactly be trampled on, either—so you’re pretty safe. Now—to come down to brass tacks——” And he fell to giving her precise directions as to the line of treatment he wished carried out.
“He’ll sleep to-night,” he prophesied. “He’s got to. I’ll come around this evening and put him under for you. Good-bye for now, and remember I’m on the job.”