“Oh, these storms never last more than a few hours; by noon it will be over and most of them can get here—those that only live a few miles away. They’re accustomed to weather like this—unless James refuses to take out the horses—James, you know, thinks more of the horses than he does of us,” she continued, turning to the others. “You know every Christmas John has the most beautiful custom. He gees around to all the farm houses and collects the children and brings them here to play games and enjoy our Christmas tree. I expect you to help entertain them, Ruth. You’re the youngest person here.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know much about children, but I’ll try.”
“I’ll help,” said Terry quickly.
“I knew you would,” said Angela, and they all laughed, though Ruth could see nothing to laugh at. She was beginning to fear that the events of the last weeks had dulled her wits.
“Can’t Pendragon take the afternoon train if it clears up?” asked Mr. Peyton-Russell.
“The nurse won’t let him; says he can’t stand sleeping cars. She simply won’t let him go until morning—and perhaps when Dr. Gerstens comes he’ll say it isn’t necessary—though he has looked rather badly the last few days. You know at first I quite forgot that he was ill until he would try to walk. I like him so much—don’t you think it’s awfully sweet of me to like John’s friends, Gloria?”
Angela was in one of her juvenile moods in which Gloria usually encouraged her, but now she only answered:
“Yes, very.”
“It is the duty of a good wife to like the friends of her husband,” said Prince Aglipogue, who by this time had sufficiently satisfied the first keen edge of the appetite acquired through the night to begin taking part in the conversation.
This remark was a challenge to Miss Gilchrist, who began a long talk on the duty of every woman to retain her individuality after marriage, illustrating her talk with examples of what the unfortunate man who married her might expect. And no one was rude enough or brave enough to tell her that all these plans and warnings on her part were unnecessary. Ruth didn’t even listen. She had discovered that Miss Gilchrist never required an answer to anything she said. She was content if only allowed to go on talking.