"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean if you ever need me I'll come—from anywhere."
She looked down at her ungainly figure in wonderment. "Surely you don't mean that now. I'm—I'm so ridiculous."
His voice choked. "God bless and keep you. God bless and keep you always, my dearest," he said, then went away.
She walked slowly and heavily up to the third flight, carrying her burden. When she opened the door with her latchkey she found her mother in blue gingham apron, cleaning Mr. Kane's room.
Mrs. Talbot paused in her operations. "Well," she vouchsafed, "Jim has turned up—just after you left. He's asleep in your room."
"Drunk?" asked Georgia.
"Of course," said Mrs. Talbot, emptying her carpet sweeper.