"Doctors have a way of pretending to be cheerful, even before very serious operations, haven't they?" she asked, as she sat down not far from him.
She saw him hesitate, as if in consideration of her feelings, and then he said, "Yes, I believe that, too, Virginia; still, he is a wonderful man, and if any one can do your mother good he can."
"If anybody can?—yes," she sighed.
"You mustn't get blue," he said, consolingly; "and yet how can you well help it, here almost by yourself, with your mother away under such sad circumstances?"
"Your own mother was not quite well recently," Virginia said, considerately. "I hope she is no worse."
"Oh, she's on her feet again," he laughed, "as lively as a cricket, moving about bossing that big place."
"Why, I thought, seeing you back so—so soon," the girl stammered; "I thought that you had perhaps heard—"
"That she was sick again? Oh no!" he exclaimed, and then he saw her drift and paused, and, flushed and embarrassed, sat staring at the floor.
"You didn't—surely you didn't come all the way here to—to tell me about my mother!" Virginia cried, "when you have important work to do down there?"
There was a moment's hesitation on his part; then he raised his head and looked frankly into her eyes.