VII
THE FEAR OF HAPPINESS
When Nicole reached her room, she found Geneviève up and waiting.
"What are you doing, child?" she cried sharply, to cover her confusion. "Why are you here?"
"I—I am waiting," Geneviève stammered, "to see if I could do anything for you."
"There is nothing. I am going out now myself."
"What!" cried the child, opening her eyes wide. "You are not going to stay with the poor fellow?"
"There is no need. He is well."
"But I thought—" She stopped, in confusion, and then clumsily beat a retreat to the door. "I'll go now. I—I only wanted to be of service."
Nicole waited only long enough to be sure of Geneviève's departure before descending in turn. Her little room was too narrow; it choked her. She had need of the open span of the sky to think over the new emotions.