"Is George dressed?" he asked.
"No," said Jennie. "He's too sick."
"Come, then," said Rockwell to Merriam. "We must help him into his things."
He crossed the small room and passed through the yellow portières. Having been at the apartment earlier in the day with Aunt Mary, he was acquainted with its geography.
Merriam rose to follow, but he felt that something more ought to be said to relieve the half-hostile awkwardness of the situation. Jennie's eyes were still cast down.
"Is he pretty sick?" he asked as he moved across the room. He was not much concerned about Senator Norman, but he could think of no other remark.
Jennie raised her eyes and looked at him--an unreadable glance.
"Pretty sick," she said, almost indifferently.
Merriam paused a moment before the portières, looking back, still meeting her eyes.
Then he turned his own away and pushed the portières aside. He found himself in a dining room, done entirely in blue, as the sitting room was in yellow. Rockwell was already opening a door on the further side. Merriam quickened his steps and was close behind the older man in entering a small white bedroom.