rest on the way.

She followed the stern Giovanna, unsubdued by the latter's hard and
jealous looks, to the door of her master's chamber.

She went toward the bed, smiling at the sick man over an armful of white
lilacs.

He half rose in his bed and quickly, disconnectedly, impetuously, said:

"My dear friend, this is most good of you. I'm sure I thank you very
much. I'm very, very much better, as you can see. I shall be out again
in a day or two." He was visibly trembling; his eyes flared with
excitement. "That being the case, my dear lady, I earnestly beg you will
not trouble to come like this every day." He stopped to choke and cough,
then wrenching himself free from strangulation--"Aurora,"--he changed
his key and tune,--"do let me be ill in peace! Here I am on my back,
with a loosened grip on everything, and it's taking an unfair advantage
to invade my privacy as you do. Take away those lilacs with you, won't
you, please? We haven't any more vases to put them in; they'd have to be
stuck in a bedroom water-jug. Giovanna won't let me have flowers in my
room, anyhow; she says they are bad for me. Don't be offended! I know
you mean nothing but to be kind, but the thing you are doing is
devilish.... What do you think I am made of? I don't want you to be
offended, but I have got to say what I can to keep you from coming to
this house and troubling me in my illness. I have got to say it plainly
and fully because you, Aurora, never understand anything that is not
said to you in so many words. I might try and try my best to convey the
same idea to you in a gentle and gentlemanly way, and not a scrap of
good would be done. I've got to talk like a beast. I wish to be alone.
Is that clear? I've just struggled and waded my way out of one quagmire;
I do not wish to enter another. Is that plain? I wish to feel free to be
ill as much and as long as I choose. It concerns nobody. It concerns
nobody if I die. It would be an excellent thing, saving me the trouble
later of blowing out my brains.... My God, Aurora, have you understood?"
he almost shouted.

"Yes," said Aurora in a voice that sounded pale, even as her face looked
pale. "I have understood, and I won't come again. Just one thing,
Gerald. Put your arms under the bed clothes and keep them there."

* * * * *

"Whether he's better or worse I truly couldn't tell you," Aurora said in
answer to Estelle's first question. After a mom