or.
Don't imagine that this house is my taste. I rent it from an agent, and
am not responsible for anything in it, good or bad. My theory is that
the couple who bought the furnishings settled upon a simple method of
suiting their diametrically different tastes. One took one half of the
house and the other the other, and made a dwelling that's part an
installment plan furniture shop and part a hospital. I was sure you
would like the hospital, just as I knew our friend Dick wouldn't. Sit
down in this chair, won't you, while I run off a minute to see whether I
can do anything for Mrs. Wood. Her daughter is away and I promised I'd
look in during the afternoon."

Left to herself Hertha did sit down, and looking out of the window upon
the pleasant landscape, tried to make some decision. A moment before she
had definitely put aside any thought of staying here; but the lovely
room, the cordial greeting, the sense of companionship, made her
hesitate. After all, it was nice to have a man to go out with once in a
while, and it had been very lonely often at Kathleen's. This was a
second turning point in her life. Her legacy was almost untouched since
she had drawn upon it to come North, but it would be used lavishly if
she decided to devote some months to learning a profession. To enter
upon a new career was a great venture, and it might be that it would
more easily be carried out if she were in new surroundings, under
unfamiliar conditions. Looking out into the street and on to the
treetops beyond, or glancing around the pretty room, thinking of
Kathleen and her kindness, of Dick and his devotion, of the perversity
of both of them in not understanding that there are many times when one
wants not to talk but to sit silent; feeling suddenly a great
homesickness for a Sunday afternoon out with Tom, strolling quietly,
dreamily, among the pines; uncertain yet expectant, Hertha sat and
meditated, letting her thoughts wander, while Dick crossed and uncrossed
his knees in his big chair downstairs.

CHAPTER XXIII

"Well?"

"I said I'd let her know Wednesday."

"Good! You'll say yes, I bet you will. And you'll go to the theater with
me Monday."

"No, not Monday."

"Tuesday, then."

"No, I don't want to go this week. Good-by."

"What do you mean?" Dick looked with amazement at Hertha's outstretched
hand. "Think I'm going to bring you here and then leave you to go back
alone?"

"I don't need you. I know the way from her