Between times they were very gay. It seemed to Jonathan that his guests were unusually witty and happy.
Mrs. Radbourne was not asleep, though the lids drooped over the poor sightless eyes. She was listening. But not to the music or jests. And she was seeing, through a sense that only blind people have.
When Jonathan came back from his walk with his guests to the trolley, she was waiting for him.
He began to pace back and forth across the room. She listened closely to the quick staccato tread.
"You seem very happy over something, Jonathan."
"I am." She did not need eyes to know that he was beaming. "Did you notice that they both seemed in better spirits than usual?"
"I noticed."
"They are coming into their own. I can't help feeling that our ventures are coming out well. It will be something to have helped them a little. There are compensations, you see—" He caught himself abruptly.
"Compensations for what?"
"Oh, for all the things," Jonathan said vaguely, "that one would like to do and can not."