Quick to interpret the meaning of the tones of a voice, and hearing disapprobation in Mrs. Tracy's, Jerry's face was shadowed at once, and she looked up entreatingly at Charles, who said:
"Mr. Tracy sent me for her. She was with him yesterday, and he will have her again to-day."
Then Jerry's face brightened, and she chimed in:
"I'm visiting. I'm invited, and I'm going to stay to eat."
Mrs. Tracy dared not interfere with Arthur, even if he took Jerry to live there altogether, and, with a bend of her head, she signified to Charles that the conference was ended.
"Come, Jerry," Charles said; but Jerry held back a moment, and asked:
"Where's Maude?"
If Mrs. Tracy heard, she did not reply, and Jerry followed on after Charles through the hall and up the broad staircase to the darkened room where Arthur lay, suffering intense pain in his head, and moaning occasionally. But he heard the patter of the little feet, for he was listening for it, and when Jerry entered his room he raised himself upon his elbow, and reaching the other hand toward her, said:
"So you have come again, little Jerry; or, perhaps I should call you little Cherry, considering how you first came to me. Would you like that name?"
"'Ess," was Jerry's reply, in the quick, half-lisping way which made the monosyllable so attractive.