However," said the doctor, grimly, "I should like to whale some
sense into you with a club!"
"An ax would be more to the point," murmured The Author,
regretfully.
"In the meantime, Richard," said Mr. Jelnik, with a faint smile,
"take Sophy home, please."
I have a vague recollection of swallowing something that the doctor
told me to swallow. Then came blessed oblivion, a sleep so profound
that I didn't even dream, and didn't awake until that afternoon; to
find the tender face of Alicia again bent over me.
I waited for her to ask at least one of the many questions she must
have been longing to ask. But Alicia shook her head.
"Sophy," said she, loyally, "you haven't got to tell me one single,
solitary thing unless you really want to. But--isn't this just a bit
sudden? I was--surprised."
"So was I."
"You see, Sophy, I never once dreamed--"
"That he cared for me? Neither did I."
"No. That you cared for him," Alicia puckered her brows.
"My dear girl," I was trying to feel my way toward letting her have
the truth, "listen: whether or not he is engaged to me, Mr. Nicholas
Jelnik really loves some lady that neither you nor I know.
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