And then, as he stood in this anxiety, came Aunt Mary's knock at the bedroom door.
He started as if caught in a guilty action and thrust the flowers back into their box before he went to open to her.
"How is she?"
But Aunt Mary herself looked so broken that he led her to a chair.
Then, "How is she?" he repeated. He could not wait.
"She is very quiet."
"You told her the--the plan?"
"Yes."
"She understood it?"
"I think so."