Page:Cornelia Meigs--The Pool of Stars.djvu/162

 was handling the wrench awkwardly, as though his fingers had not much strength, but he appeared intent and absorbed, almost himself again.

Elizabeth, nevertheless, was not satisfied. She could not believe that any one so stricken as had been Mr. Reynolds an hour before, could have really recovered so quickly. Rather shyly she suggested that she should stay all night, "just so that you will not be all alone, if he should be ill again," as she told Miss Miranda, and, on her friend's relieved acceptance of the suggestion, was glad that she had offered. David went across the hill to get the things that she had telephoned to Anna to pack, while Betsey mounted the stairs with Miss Miranda to prepare a sleeping place.

"We have so few guests that I have no regular spare bedroom," her hostess explained. "If you do not mind, you will have to sleep on the couch here beside the toy-cupboard."

Later, as she went to and fro about the house, Elizabeth peeped in more than once to see how Mr. Reynolds was faring in the workshop. She stood at the door, not daring to speak or to disturb him, so busy did he seem. His face looked white, deeply lined and very tired; never had he appeared to her so really old. He was toiling very earnestly so that she felt sure he must be gaining some comfort from his work. Once, however, when she looked in she