Page:Keeping the Peace.pdf/169

 hurry. I meant to write mother about it, but I didn't. I'll tell her."

"I never tell mother anything," said Edward, "unless I'm pretty sure she'll like it."

John sighed. Then he said: "Flushing's a dear old place. You'll have fun knocking about for a couple of days. Have you eaten?"

Edward nodded. He was trying to recall just what some knowing boys had once said to him about the Jackson girl and his brother James. When had John ever found the opportunity to fall in love with her and court her? It was all rather mysterious. John married and a father! Himself an uncle!

"How's everybody?" asked John.

"You knew father has some trouble with his heart?"

"I didn't know. Serious?"

"He says not. But it hurts him sometimes. It's as if somebody had knocked his wind out. I saw him have one attack. He never says much. But I think we ought to know just what's the matter with him."

"We will," said John. "How is he otherwise?"

"I'm so used to seeing him that he doesn't seem to change much. But I guess you'll think he seems old and tired. It's been a bad year for mother's and Sarah's hay fever. They went to the White