"Then I won't believe the worst until it really happens."
On their arrival at home Olive and Frieda were sympathetic, but naturally could not care as much as Jack and Frank, since Captain MacDonnell was to them only a comparatively new acquaintance.
But all evening Frieda watched her sister closely, whenever she had the opportunity without being observed. Only a few times before had she seen her with the same expression.
Half a dozen or more of the neighbors came in after dinner to ask for further information concerning Captain MacDonnell, having heard the news only indirectly.
But among them all Jack was the only one who appeared hopeful. She outwardly showed the effect of the anxiety and grief over their friend far less than Frank. But Frieda at least realized that courage was her sister's strongest characteristic.
There had always been something gallant about Jack from the time she was a little girl—the carriage of her head; the look in her eyes—everything about her revealed this.
And tonight Frieda appreciated the fact more clearly than any one else. There was no friend in the world so loyal as Jack; and no one more anxious to help those for whom she cared. Frieda knew that whatever else she might say during the evening, she was in reality thinking only of her husband's friend and her own, alone and dying, perhaps with no one near him for whom he cared.
As early as possible Jack and Frank went upstairs together, since Frank showed the effect of the strain by being uncommonly tired.
They had gone into their own rooms and Jack was slowly beginning to undress when an idea came to her; and she went at once into her husband's room.
Frank, she found sitting on the side of his bed.