"Yes, mother—I'm only with Uncle George."
"Don't be long, darling."
"I'll bring her in presently," I answered for her; and we continued to stand side by side.
I suppose that ordinarily a man of my years would keep such a dismissal as I had received that afternoon locked in his own breast, or would at any rate hesitate before sharing it with a young girl. And I did hesitate. But trouble is mysteriously lightened when it is merged in another trouble, and to cheer Jennie up was the aim of all of us that night. And I think that perhaps the Jennie I wanted to tell was Jennie the woman, not Jennie the child.
So "Jennie," I said quietly, "you're not the only one."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I've had my medicine too this afternoon."
"Your medicine?"
"Oh," I took myself up, "not that kind of medicine. I mean that you're not the only one who's had to go through it this afternoon."
"I don't understand you, Uncle George."