She greeted Richard cordially. "I sent Hannah down when I heard you. Eve didn't let me know you were here; she never lets me know. And now tell me about your poor mother."
"Why poor, dear lady? You know she loves Crossroads."
"How anybody can—— I'd die of loneliness. Now to-night—so many people of my own kind——"
"Everybody in black velvet or brocade, everybody with badges, everybody with blue blood," Eve interrupted flippantly; "nobody with ideas, nobody with enthusiasms, nobody with an ounce of originality—ugh!"
"My dear——!"
"Dicky, Aunt Maude's idea of Heaven is a place where everybody wears coronets instead of halos, and where the angel chorus is a Dutch version of 'God save the King.'"
"My idea of Heaven," Aunt Maude retorted, "is a place where young girls have ladylike manners."
Richard roared. It had been long since he had tasted this atmosphere of salt and spice. Aunt Maude and her sprightly niece were as good as a play.
"How long shall you be in town, Richard?"
"Three or four days. It depends on the condition of our patient. It may be necessary to operate again, and Austin wants me to be here."
