Page:Son of the wind.djvu/85

RV 73 clared with emphasis, and to his surprise realized that he had spoken the truth, "I'd like it above all things."

She gave a slight sidewise inclination of the head, accepting this. "Then, if you'll just wait a moment—" She turned to the door behind her which stood open and entered the room.

He saw her catch up his pillow, give it a pat, and deposit it plump and smooth upon his smoothed up bed, flick her dusting cloth over the top of the bureau, then stoop and gather up his soiled linen from the floor where he had thoughtlessly flung it. This was worse than having her mail his letters. for him. He must see that she didn't have to do that again. She matter-of-factly rolled the garments up under her arm, and, coming to one of the open windows, called to him, "I'll send your things to the Chinaman, shan't I; he'll have them done in a few days."

Carron replied that she was very thoughtful. This mixture of domesticity and idyl was confusing.

He watched her close all his windows but one, draw all curtains, and then close the door, shutting herself from sight. There was a moment of silence, and he wondered if, in the interval, she had condescended to take off her sweeping cap in front