bring her to (it seems she was in the habit of taking some
medicine to make her sleep, and it weakened her heart) asked me if I
wouldn't like to take out some patients of his, and so I called for a
very nice lady--a Mrs. Williams; you probably don't know her?--and after
that a young girl with spinal trouble, and--and several others. They
seemed to enjoy it, and I'm sure I did. Once I took a young girl that's
staying here--she had a bad headache. She was a sweet girl, and I liked
her. She said the drive helped her a great deal. It's astonishing"--her
eyes met his wonderingly--"how much trouble you can have, with all the
money you want! I--I was sorry for her," she added, half to herself.

Before he thought he leaned forward, took her hand with the silver
tablespoon in it, and kissed it gently. He admired her as he would
admire some charming soft pastel hung in a cool white room.

"How sweet and good you are!" he said warmly; and then, to cover her
deep embarrassment and his own sudden emotion, he continued quickly,
"Are you very busy in the morning, always?"

"There are different things," she murmured, still looking at her spoon.
"I have letters to write--I keep up with a good many old friends in
Binghamville and Albany, where I lived with my married niece ten years,
till they moved West. I loved her children; I half brought them up. One
died; I can't seem to get over it--" Her eyes filled, and she made no
effort to cover two tears that slipped over.

Varian took her hand again. "I know about that--I know!" he said softly.

"Then there are my flowers; I do so enjoy the beds and the greenhouses
here," she went on more cheerfully. "The gardeners are very kind to
me--I think they like to have me come in. Mr. McFadden gives me a good
many slips and cuttings. I love flowers dearly. Then I read a good deal,
and there is always some little thing to do for the young girls here.
They--the ones I know--come in for a moment while I mend something, or
pin their things in the back, and it's surprising how much there is to
do! They fly about so they can't stop to take care of their things. They
talk to me while I set them straight, and it's very interesting. I tell
Lizzie I go out a great deal, just hearing about their adventures, when
she drops in to see me. She never forgets me; she brings somebody to my
sitting-room every day or so that she thinks I'd enjoy meeting--and I
always do. She never makes a mistake."

"Oh, she's won