“It might be still better to look on our grief as if it were no grief at all. That makes it yet easier to bear. What do you think, Mrs. Lesa?” said Mr. Delrick as confidentially as an old friend.
Mrs. Lesa looked up in surprise.
“I think I understand what the gentleman means, but I hardly seem to find an answer,” she replied after a pause.
“There is no hurry,” said Mr. Delrick kindly. “If you will permit me to live in your home for a few months we might find many an hour to continue our conversation.”
More astonished than ever, Mrs. Lesa glanced at the stranger. A happy smile spread for a moment over her features, only to disappear as suddenly. “It does not depend on me alone, sir,” she said calmly. “I know that my husband won’t have strangers in the house. That settles the matter, I fear.”
“Mr. Lesa and I understand each other already,” said Mr. Delrick. “He told me himself that he would be satisfied with whatever you decide to do.”
Mrs. Lesa knew not what to think. Only a short time ago her husband had positively declared that he wanted no strangers to live with him. However, the gentleman might look at the two rooms possible, in order to know if they would suit him. She would then consult with her husband and send him word at the hotel. Having no intention to hurry Mrs. Lesa in her decision, Mr. Delrick agreed. Climbing the stairs, he glanced into the rooms. One had an eastern exposure and in the other the noonday sun was shining through the windows. The branches of the old walnut trees outside were swaying in the breeze, and Mr. Delrick was immensely taken with them. If he had had his way he would have taken possession of the rooms at once. This Mrs. Lesa could not fail to observe.
“I must say good-bye to your little daughter,” he said going towards the door. “We are good friends already and I hope we can continue to be so.”
Stefeli, who had been hiding behind her mother, shot forward at these words. She had taken in everything and had followed her mother in order to find out if the gentleman liked the rooms. She was hoping that he would come to live there. That would give her somebody to talk to, for he had listened very attentively to everything she had told him about the pasture.
Mr. Delrick, shaking her hand, begged her to lead him up to the pasture some day. At parting Mrs. Lesa promised to send their decision to him as soon as possible, for he was anxious to know.