The next moment he was himself again.
“When I say that there is no illness,” he said, “I am hardly exact. There is no illness, but there has been an epidemic of children’s diseases among the Beauregard Square children and we are keeping the youngsters indoors.”
“Don’t you think they could be safeguarded without being shut up in the house?”
He responded eagerly
“If I only thought——” he checked himself. “No,” he said decidedly; “for a time at least I believe it is not wise.”
I did not argue with him. There was nothing to be gained by antagonizing him. And as Mrs. Reed came in just then, the subject was dropped. She was hardly more than a girl, almost as blond as her husband, very pretty, and with the weariest eyes I have ever seen, unless perhaps the eyes of a man who has waited a long time for deathly tuberculosis.
I liked her at once. She did not attempt to smile. She rather clung to my hand when I held it out.
“I am glad St. Luke’s still trusts us,” she said. “I was afraid the other nurse—— Frank, will you take Miss Adams’ suitcase upstairs?”
She held out a key. He took it, but he turned at the door:
“I wish you wouldn’t wear those things, Anne. You gave me your promise yesterday, you remember.”