ad seen her again?

For days after that, I drifted--there is no other word for it--through
the hours of each day. When it was absolutely necessary for Lillian to
know some detail, which I alone could give her, she would come to
me, rouse me, and holding me to the subject by the sheer force of her
will, obtain the information she wished, and then leave me to myself,
or rather to Katie again. Katie was my devoted slave. She waited on
me hand and foot, and made a most admirable nurse when Lillian was
compelled to be absent.

When I thought about the matter at all, I realized that Lillian was
preparing to have me share her apartment in the city when I should
be strong enough to leave my home. Harry Underwood had gone with my
father to South America for a trip which would take many months, so
I made no protest. I knew also, because of questions she had made me
answer, that she had arranged with the Lotus Study Club to have an old
teaching comrade of mine, a man who had experience in club lectures,
take my place until I should be well enough to go back to the work.

In so far as I could feel anything, the knowledge that I was still
to have my club work gratified me. The twenty dollars a week which it
paid me, while not large, would preserve my independence until I could
gain courage to go back to my teaching.

For one feeling obsessed me, was strong enough to penetrate the
lethargy of mind and body into which Dicky's letter had thrown me. I
spoke of it to Lillian one day.

"Do--not--use--any--of--Dicky's--money," I said slowly and painfully.
"My--own--bank--book--in--desk."

She took it out, and I also gave her the bank book and papers my
father had given me the day before he left for South America.

"Keep--them--for--me," I whispered, and then at her tender
comprehending smile, I had a sudden revelation.

"Then--you--know--" Astonishment made my voice stronger.

"That Robert Gordon is your father?" she returned briskly. "Bless you,
child, I've suspected it ever since I first heard of his emotion on
hearing the names of your parents. But nobody else knows, I didn't
think it necessary to tell your mother-in-law or Katie, unless, of
course, you want me to do so."

Her smile was so cheery, so infectious, that I could not help but
smile back at her. There was still something on my mind, however.

"This house must be closed," I told her. "Try to find positions for
Katie and Jim."

"I'll attend to everything," she pr