"Then," said Allison, with the air of one scoring a fine point, "will you ask-well—ask Miss Bernard to come over and see me?"
Remembering the other woman who had come in response to his request, and the disastrous effect the visit had had upon her patient she hesitated. "I'm afraid you're not strong enough," she said kindly. "Can't you wait a little longer?"
"There," he cried. "I knew they were dead!"
As she happened to be both wise and kind, the young woman hesitated no longer. "If I brought you a note from her you would believe me, wouldn't you?"
"No," he replied, stubbornly.
"Isn't there any way you would know, without seeing her?"
He considered for a few moments. "I'd know if I heard her play," he said at length. "There's no one who could play just the way she does."
"Suppose I ask her to come over sometimes and play the piano downstairs for a few minutes at a time, very softly. Would you like that?"
"Yes—that is, I don't mind." He was sure, now, that his trap was in working order, for no one could deceive him at the piano—he would recognise Rose at the first chord.
"Excuse me just a minute, please." She returned presently with the news that Rose would come as soon as she could. "Can't you go to sleep now?" she suggested.