THE LUCK OF THE IRISH
to little old United, we'll fix up things. I know you've been worrying a lot. Gee! what woman wouldn't have worried? And you've been mighty kind to me. If I remember anything about history or pictures or churches it's because you told me; if I remember any place it's because you were there with me. I can't lose you altogether. I want to fix it up so's sometimes I can come around and hear you play the piano. All I want you to do is to get well and make believe the whole business was a bad nightmare. That's all, sister. Good night."
He smiled, reached in and caught hold of the knob, closing the door rather hastily. He did not want to hear her voice, he did not care for any expression of gratitude. He had burned his bridges, and his heart could not stand any more.
Ruth often wondered in after days how long she had remained standing there in the middle of her room, entranced, incapable of stirring hand or foot or withdrawing her dry-eyed gaze from that door which had strangely lost its sinister significance.
The spell was broken by the touch of the nurse's hand. "Did you call, Mrs. Grogan? I thought I heard voices. Please go right back to bed. Mercy! your shoulders are dripping with sweat! That's bad. Come, please."
Docilely Ruth permitted the nurse to put her to bed and tuck her in. But sleep never came to her that night. She lay there thinking, thinking; dawn came and daylight, and still the tumult in her mind abated not a jot. A cheat! Was she
326
