At these commonplace words, the tension broke in a rush of hysterical
tears, which, while it relieved her, maddened her because for a moment
she was unable to speak. But she managed to say, brokenly, that the
boy had said something which frightened her, for fear that he might-"Kill himself?" said the doctor, cheerfully, "No indeed! The people
who threaten to kill themselves, never do. Come, now, forget all about
him." And William, smiling, drew one of her hands down from her eyes.
"Gracious! what a wrist! Did David scratch you?"
She pulled her hand away, and hid it in the folds of her skirt. "Oh, I
do hope you are right; but Dr. King, he said something--and I was so
frightened. Oh, if I could just know he had got home, all safe!"
"Well, it's easy to know that," said William. "Come, let us walk down
to Mr. Wright's; I bet a hat we'll find the young gentleman eating a
late supper with an excellent appetite. Love doesn't kill, Mrs.,
Richie--at Sam's age."
She was silent.
William took his lantern out of a closet, and made a somewhat
elaborate matter of lighting it, wiping off the oozing oil from the
tank, and then shutting the frame with a cheerful snap. It would give
her time to get hold of herself, he thought.
"I must apologize to Mrs. King," Helena said. "I was so frightened,
that I'm afraid I was abrupt."
"Oh, that's all right," said Martha's husband, easily, and opened the
outer door of the office. "Come."
She followed him down the garden path to the street: there in the
darkness, broken by the gay zigzag of the lantern across the
flagstones of the sidewalk, William found it easier to speak out: "I hope you don't mind my referring to Sam's being in love, Mrs.
Richie? Of course, we have all known that he had lost his heart. Boys
will, you know. And, honestly, I think if ever a boy had excuse for--
that sort of thing, Sam had. But it has distressed me to have you
bothered. And to-night is the climax. For him to talk like a--a jack-
donkey, because you very properly snubbed him--you mustn't mind my
speaking plainly; I have understood the whole thing from the
beginning--makes me mad. You're really worn out. Confound that boy!
You are too good, Mrs. Richie, that's the trouble. You let yourself be
imposed upon."
Her broken "no--no" seemed to him a lovely humility, and he laughed
and shook his head.