"Oh! I?" She looked up blankly from the glass of wine. "It is a great chance, of course."
This joyless attitude, unremarked by her husband, caused Wheeler to suspect that there were deeper troubles in this household than money worries.
After a little more talk in which Helen did not take part the lawyer left to take his train for the city, and Jackson walked to the station with him. When he returned he found Helen still sitting at the empty table. His eyes were aflame with the golden light of opportunity. He put his hand over his wife's shoulder and pressed her cheek affectionately.
"It's great, isn't it, Nell?" he said.
She looked up into his face with a wistful smile. The good news had changed him wonderfully, even in this brief hour, erasing already some lines from his face. It seemed as if his nature was not one to grow strong in the storms of life, but needed, rather, the warmth of prosperity.
"It's great, isn't it?" he repeated, desiring to savor the good fortune with her.
"Yes, Francis," she replied slowly, and added almost pleadingly, "and you must do it greatly."
"Of course," he assented cheerily. "It'll be the best yet—don't you worry!"