“Yes. Getting married and being in a crowd indoors all day doesn’t agree with me. Do you know where I’m going?”
“No.”
“Up to Rockland Street, to look at the house where you have slept for so many years, with your narrow white bed dragged against the wall so that even in your sleep you might be near the people who passed on the street.”
She smiled faintly at him.
“You come too. Your namesakes are all out. It is a lovely night.”
She hesitated, but he went to the hall and seizing a cap and a shawl from the hat-rack, came back and put them on her.
“I feel as if I should fall,” she said rising unsteadily.
“Nonsense, my dear girl; nerves again. Take my arm and you’ll be all right when we get into the street. You’re better now, aren’t you?” he asked as they strolled along the flagged pavement.
“Yes,” she murmured absently.
“Don’t dawdle,” he said, “but let us go briskly, and breathe all the fresh air we can, and don’t go to sleep but talk to me. Stay, I’ll do something amusing. Lean against this wall for a jiffy till I see if I can jump this barricade. If I can’t, you shall have twenty dollars for your soup kitchen. Now, Camperdown, distinguish yourself,” and to Stargarde’s mild amazement he proceeded to the middle of the street where some repairs were being carried on, and running back attempted to leap over an erection of planks.