"That's a good child," Ella called gaily. "The kid's gone down to dinner, but don't hurry. I'm dining out."
"I'll be down directly," Susan said, going on. She crossed the dimly lighted, fragrant upper hall, and knocked on Kenneth's door.
It was instantly opened by the gracious and gray-haired Miss Trumbull, the night nurse. Kenneth, in a gorgeous embroidered Mandarin coat, was sitting up and enjoying his supper.
"Come in, woman," he said, smiling composedly. Susan felt warmed and heartened by his manner, and came to take her chair by the bed. Miss Trumbull disappeared, and the two had the big, quiet room to themselves.
"Well," said Kenneth, laying down a wish-bone, and giving her a shrewd smile. "You can't do it, and you're afraid to say so, is that it?"
A millstone seemed lifted from Susan's heart. She smiled, and the tears rushed into her eyes.
"I--honestly, I'd rather not," she said eagerly.
"That other fellow, eh?" he added, glancing at her before he attacked another bone with knife and fork.
Taken unawares, she could not answer. The color rushed into her face. She dropped her eyes.
"Peter Coleman, isn't it?" Kenneth pursued.