He was a bit disconcerted. "Oh, I say--"
"But they are not for you. They are for my lost youth and romance, Bruce. My lost youth and romance."
Leaning back in his chair he studied her. Her eyes were dreamy--the rose-red was still in her cheeks. For the first time he realized the prettiness of Emily; it was as if in her plea for others she had brought to life something in herself which glowed and sparkled.
"Look here," he said. "I want you to write to me."
"I am a busy woman."
"But a letter now and then--"
"Well, now and then--"
He was forced to be content with that. She was really very charming, he decided as he got into his car. She was such a gentlewoman--she created an atmosphere which belonged to his home and hearth.
When he came in late she was not waiting up for him as Hilda had so often waited. There was a plate of sandwiches on his desk, coffee ready in the percolator to be made by the turning on of the electricity. But he ate his lunch alone.
Yet in spite of the loneliness, he was glad that Emily had not waited up for him. It was a thing which Hilda might do--Hilda, who made a world of her own. But Emily"s world was the world of womanly graciousness and dignity--the world in which his daughter moved, the world which had been his wife"s. For her to have eaten alone with him in his office in the middle of the night would have made her seem less than he wanted her to be.
Before he went to bed, he called up Hilda. "I forgot to tell you when you were here this afternoon that I asked young Drake about Bronson.
He says that it isn"t possible that the old man is giving the General anything against orders. You"d better watch the other servants and be sure of the day nurse--"
"I am sure of her and of the other servants--but I still have my doubts about Bronson."
"But Drake says--"
"I don"t care what he says. Bronson served the General before he served young Drake--and he"s not to be trusted."
"I should be sorry to think so; he impresses me as a faithful old soul."
"Well, my eyes are rather clear, you know."
"Yes, I know. Good-night, Hilda."
She hung up the receiver. She had talked to him at the telephone in the lower hall, which was enclosed, and where one might be confidential without feeing overheard.
She sat very still for a few moments in the little booth, thinking; then she rose and went upstairs.
The General was awake and eager.
"Shall I read to you?" Hilda asked.
"No, I"d rather talk."
She shaded the light and sat beside the little table. "Did you like your dinner?"
"Yes. Bronson said you made the broth. It was delicious."
"I like to cook---when I like the people I cook for."
He basked in that.
"There are some patients--oh, I have wanted to salt their coffee and pepper their cereal. You have no idea of the temptations which come to a nurse."
"Are you fond of it--nursing?"
"Yes. It is nice in a place like this--and at Dr. McKenzie"s. But there are some houses that are awful, with everybody quarrelling, the children squalling--. I hate that. I want to be comfortable. I like your thick carpets here, and the quiet, and the good service. And the good things to eat, and the little taste of wine that we take together." Her low laugh delighted him.
"The wine? You are going to drink another gla.s.s with me before I go to sleep."
"Yes. But it is our secret. Dr. McKenzie would kill me if he knew, and a nurse must obey orders."
"He need never know. And it won"t hurt me."
"Of course not. But he has ideas on the subject."
"May I have it now?"
"Wait until Bronson goes to bed."
"Bronson has nothing to do with it. A servant has neither ears nor eyes."
"It might embarra.s.s him if the Doctor asked him. And why should you make him lie?"
Bronson, pottering in, presently, was told that he would not be needed.
"Mr. Derry telephoned that he would be having supper after the play at Miss Gray"s. You can call him there if he is wanted."
"Thank you, Bronson. Good-night."
When the old man had left them, she said to the General, "Do you know that your son is falling in love?"
"In love?"
"Yes, desperately--at first sight?"
He laughed. "With whom?"
"Dr. McKenzie"s daughter."
"What?" He raised himself on his elbow.
"Yes. Jean McKenzie. I am not sure that I ought to tell you, but somehow it doesn"t seem right that you are not being told--"
He considered it gravely. "I don"t want him to get married," he said at last. "I want him to go to war. I can"t tell you, Miss Merritt, how bitter my disappointment has been that Derry won"t fight."
"He may have to fight."
"Do you think I want him dragged to defend the honor of his country?