"All right, Mother. I won't forget."
"You know where to find 'em—"
"Yes, I know where to find 'em."
"Now, Nell, I promised Myry—"
"What did you promise Myry?" Marvin flared in sudden jealousy. Both women eyed him, as from a great and unattainable height. Then Nell's capable back disappeared beyond Myry's door; and his mother's little old grotesque and woolly figure was swallowed up by the black hall.
Again he took up the magazine. Again looked at the picture. Again, scarcely seeing them, he read the words. Again he sat; and again Nell elbowed him importantly, and his mother in her snail-like wrappings, came creeping in to remind Nell—
When Doc Bradley came out, at first he thought the man, sprawled loosely in the chair, must be asleep—till he lifted his eyes. They were sleepless and inflamed like a watch-dog's.
"Hold on! Wait a minute! Nell's boss now. You don't want to go in looking that way—you'd skeer 'im!"
"What'll I say?" inquired Marvin hoarsely; "Myry's a good woman—she 's been a good wife to me—too good—"
"Tell 'er something she don't know! Say something fond-like and foolish."