e shouldn't, he'd have got out
of bed by this time. You must go up and see him, I suppose, but don't
stay too long. He's a wonder for strength and recuperative powers, but
don't tire him too much. If that wife of his was in Europe or somewhere,
I'd feel easier. She's the most tiring thing in the house."

Johnson led the way upstairs. At the chamber door he knocked and
announced my presence.

"Bring him in! What is he waiting for?" demanded a voice which,
considering how recently its owner had been at death's door, was
surprisingly strong. I entered the room.

He was in bed, propped up with pillows. Beside him sat Mrs. Colton. Of
the two she looked the more disturbed. Her eyes were wet and she
was dabbing at them with a lace handkerchief. Her morning gown was a
wondrous creation. "Big Jim," with his iron-gray hair awry and his eyes
snapping, looked remarkably wide awake and alive.

"How are you, Paine?" he said. "Glad to see you. Sorry to bring you over
here, but I had to see you and that doctor says I must stay in this room
for a while yet. He may be right. My understanding is pretty shaky, I'll
admit. You've met Mrs. Colton, haven't you?"

I bowed and expressed my pleasure at meeting the lady. Her bow was
rather curt, but she regarded me with an astonishing amount of agitated
interest. Also she showed symptoms of more tears.

"I don't remember whether or not Mr. Paine and I have ever been formally
introduced," she observed. "If we haven't it makes no difference, I
suppose. The other members of the family seem to know him well enough.
And--and mothers nowadays are not considered. I--I must say that--"

She had recourse to the lace handkerchief. I could understand what the
doctor meant by calling her the "most tiring thing in the house." Her
husband laid a hand on hers.

"There, there, my dear," he said, soothingly, "don't be foolish. Sit
down, Paine. Henrietta, perhaps you had better leave Mr. Paine and I
together. We have some--er--business matters to discuss and you are
tired and nervous. I should go to my room and lie down, if I were you."

Mrs. Colton accepted the suggestion, but her acceptance was not the most
gracious.

"I am in the way, as usual," she observed, chokingly. "Very well, I
should be resigned to that by this time, no doubt. I will go. But James,
for my sake, don't be weak. Remember what--Oh, remember all we had hoped
and planned! When I think of it, I--I--A nobody! A person without . . .
W