Before he had time to answer she said:
``Dinner's waiting. Let's go in.''
And on the way she made an opportunity to say to him in an
undertone: ``I do hope you'll be careful not to say anything
that'll upset father. I have to warn every one who comes here.
His digestion's bad, and the least thing makes him ill, and--''
she smiled charmingly at him-- ``I HATE nursing. It's too much
like work to suit an upper-class person.''
There was no resisting such an appeal as that. Victor sat silent
and ate, and let the old man talk on and on. Jane saw that it
was a severe trial to him to seem to be assenting to her father's
views. Whenever he showed signs of casting off his restraint,
she gave him a pleading glance. And the old man, so weazened, so
bent and shaky, with his bowl of crackers and milk, was--or
seemed to be--proof that the girl was asking of him only what was
humane. Jane relieved the situation by talking volubly about
herself--her college experiences, what she had seen and done in
Europe.
After dinner Hastings said:
``I'll drive you back to town, young man. I'm going in to work,
as usual. I never took a vacation in my life. Can you beat that
record?''
``Oh, I knock off every once in a while for a month or so,'' said
Dorn.
``The young fellows growing up nowadays ain't equal to us of the
old stock,'' said Martin. ``They can't stand the strain. Well,
if you're ready, we'll pull out.
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