'No!'with a great flush.
'I would try to endure Mr. Falkirk. But I do not at this moment think of any other human being I could endure,besides Hans Heinert.'
'Wellthere it is,' said Hazel, impressively, very busy at taking the measure of his arm just then with her little fingers.
'I do not know. Perhaps not. Let us hear.'
'Olaf,' she said, softly now, 'is not this big empty house a 'talent?' And if it is, you know it must be increased by 'trading.' And I can think of no way but to make it reach out over heads thatfor any reasonneed shelter. One would want to be able to say'Lord, thy house has become ten houses'or a hundred, if it would stretch so far!'
'Go on,' said Dane, his eyes sparkling and growing soft, both at once. 'Who is to be your first guest?'
'She will not trouble you. It is only a poor little embroiderer down at Crocus who is dying for rest and good living. Dr. Arthur told me; and I am going to bring her here for awhile. But thereit seems as if I could not help hearing of things now!' said Hazel, again with a half laugh. 'If it was a sick or over-worked guest of some other sorts, they must come where you would see them. So what am I to do?'
'I can stand seeing them,' said Dane, watching her.
'But if there was always somebody needing fresh air and dainties,' said Hazel, looking up wistfully. 'Then you would never see me and I should never see youexcept across other people. Must I give that up too?'
'No,' said her husband laughing. 'Where did you get all those "mustesses"as Dingee would express it?'