"I suppose you are looking forward to a happy evening with Nina," he said, trying manfully to keep the pain that was wringing his heart from sounding in his voice.
Lige was shining his shoes. He turned his head and looked up at his brother.
"Nina?" he said interrogatively, then going on with his shining with bent head. "Why—a—no, I—I thought I would go over to the Jameses—that is if I won't be in the way. I—a—I thought I'd like to ask if they had heard anything about Herb."
Joe stared at him.
"Go over to the Jameses? Your first evening at home! Why, Lige!"
Lige looked up with rather a red face.
"Well, why not? We've been with the family all day, and I haven't seen Beatrice, and——"
"But Nina—what will she think—how will she feel——"
"Nina? What the deuce——" Lige suddenly suspended operations on his boots and straightened up, holding the brush extended and staring at his brother.
"Good Lord!" he ejaculated suddenly.