Hunch gripped his hand and went away.
That evening, when Hunch went around to see Jess, he was depressed. The thought of Mamie's suffering stood in his way whenever he tried to respond to Jess's sallies. As the evening went on, Hunch's mood grew worse. Jess went into a sulk later; when he dropped a careless remark that hurt her pride, she grew angry.
“What's the matter, Jess?” Hunch said at last.
“I guess you know.”
“I don't believe you want me here.”
“Oh, you can go if you want to.”
Hunch looked at her, vaguely conscious that he had been unkind; but he went away without kissing her good-night.
One morning, a day or two later, he was dressing, when Bruce came in, with disordered hair and excited eyes.
“It's all right, Hunch; it's all right! Doctor says it's wonderful how she come through it.”
Hunch sat on the bed without speaking, but with an almost painful expression of relief on his face.