e had heard much of both, so she
continued to find a great deal to say about them as they
walked,--especially about Mr. Bennet, upon which subject she enlarged
to Ross's amusement. But Arethusa did not consider that his replies to
her raptures were suitably enthusiastic.

"Now don't you really think he's good-looking, Father?"

"Undoubtedly so, my dear."

"I think," Arethusa's expression was dreamy, and her eyes were far
away, apparently on the hazy skyline, "I think that he looks just like
a Prince!"

It spoiled Ross's drive from the seventh tee completely. He sliced far
over into the tall grass, and as she had not been watching as a caddy
should, they had to go on without ever finding the ball.

While they were on the fourteenth fairway it began to rain in hard
pelting drops, a fulfillment of the morning's promise of a heavy gray
sky. Arethusa was in her element then, and as there was no Miss Eliza
to drag her in by the power of her will, to all of Ross's entreaties
that they seek shelter with more haste, she turned a deaf and unheeding
ear. He was far more of a hot-house plant than his daughter, so he
caught a violent cold from his drenching in the chilly fall rain, which
made itself promptly known with much sneezing before he had gone to bed
that night.

Arethusa was thoroughly conscience-stricken when he was unable to get
up the next morning. She felt personally responsible for his aches and
pains and his fever. It was her duty, she decided, as the contributing
cause of it all, to nurse and amuse him. She refused to budge from his
side for the next several days, indefatigable in her attentions. She
read aloud to him, jumping up from her chair with almost every turning
of a page to plump up his pillows with zeal, and to demand if he wanted
anything. Arethusa was hardly a gentle nurse, even if a conscientious
one. She fetched him veritable gallons of ice-water, and carried up his
meals with her own fair hands. And while he dozed, at intervals through
the days, she stayed near him, dreaming of Mr. Bennet. Ross accepted
all of this solicitude with a lazy nonchalance, not in the least averse
to being fussed over.

All of Sunday afternoon, Arethusa watched anxiously for Mr. Bennet. Had
he not said that he was coming to call?

But he did not come, although Mr. Harrison and Billy Watts and several
other acquaintances made at the Party did. She denied herself to all of
these visitors. How could she leave her sick