“It is Mr. Glenn.” With the words she sprang three steps at a time to the pavement. “How glad I am!”
And then she stopped, remembered, and held out her hands.
“How you frightened me. You had me going to the hospital to find you. That’s the same number on the next street.”
“Well, how do you expect me to get things right when I feel like I’m flying every way and can’t get myself together to light?”
Glenn always found her startling figures amusing. “You will feel that for awhile.” He hadn’t taken his eyes away from her as she led the way into the parlor. “You are stunned by the novelties. You will also be quickened by them.”
Esther, full-breasted, slender-limbed, rounded. The joy of life was upon her—the loveliness of full bloom.
“It’s good to see you again,” he said, “but why didn’t you let me help you get settled?”
“It took enough of your time to write that discouraging letter.”
“You know I didn’t mean it for that. I would do most anything to further your art. But it is best to do only that for what we are intended. Nobody could know that as well as yourself. I believed your decision would be right, whatever it was,” he told her. “Are you pleased with your advancement so far?”
“Not pleased—buoyed. I hope to do something some day.” As she raised her eyes to him they expressed something of the wild, delicate, throbbing pride. “I did not come to fail.”