Certainly she
showed a remarkable pallor.
Knowing its cause herself, she did not invite his inquiries; and
another day passed. With the following morning she felt strong
enough to open the conversation which had now become necessary for
her peace of mind.
She waited till the moment when, her work all done, she was about
to leave his presence. Pausing till she caught his eye, which
seemed a little loth, she thought, to look her way, she observed,
with perhaps unnecessary distinctness:
"I hope that everything is to your mind, Judge Ostrander. I should
be sorry not to make you as comfortable as is possible under the
circumstances."
Roused a little suddenly, perhaps, from thoughts quite
disconnected with those of material comfort, he nodded with the
abstraction of one who recognises that some sort of acknowledgment
is expected from him; then, seeing her still waiting, added
politely:
"I am very well looked after, if that is what you mean, Mrs.
Scoville. Bela could not do any better--if he ever did as well."
"I am glad," she replied, thinking with what humour this would
have struck her once. "I--I ask because, having nothing on my mind
but housekeeping, I desire to remedy anything which is not in
accordance with your exact wishes."
His attention was caught and by the very phrase she desired.
"Nothing on your mind but housekeeping?" he repeated. "I thought
you had something else of a very particular nature with which to
occupy yourself.
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