"Thank you, but I am happy to say that the fatigue, like the illness, lies in the past. My brother is quite well again, and out and about his usual business."
"Of course he likes his business, he is so successful; the trial is where hard work is not successful," and Mrs. Wymans spoke feelingly.
"I think my brother meets with some success and probably some trials also, but these are only words too; we never talk of business together, and I know nothing about his."
"Really! Forgive me, dear Mrs. Dorriman, but then where is the sympathy? And a woman has such sharp eyes. I never rest till I know every single thing that is going on--that is my way of showing sympathy."
"But it must tire your husband, does it not? A woman can see only one side, and then she cannot help in the way of advice. Her advice cannot be useful."
"That is only a notion of yours," said Mrs. Wymans, a little nettled, "and why should a woman only know one side of a thing?"
"Because she only hears her husband's views; of course his private affairs cannot be talked over with another person, therefore the wife's views must be a little one-sided."
"Oh no, mine are not. I hear a thing and see a great many sides all at once."
"Perhaps you are cleverer than I am," said Mrs. Dorriman, in all humility, glad that at any rate the question of the Rivers girls had not cropped up.
Mrs. Wymans eyed her keenly, anxious to make out whether she was speaking satirically or not. Somewhat reassured on that point by Mrs. Dorriman's placid face, she drew a little nearer her and said confidentially,
"What a sad thing Mrs. Drayton's position is!"
"In what way?" Mrs. Dorriman received a dreadful shock by this sudden touch upon the subject.
"Why, her husband being poor instead of rich, and some other things."
"Do you mind telling me what other things?" and Mrs. Dorriman was alarmed as well as annoyed.
"Why, if you do not know of any thing, ... but if it is not true, I had better not repeat it."
"You really must tell me what you mean," and Mrs. Dorriman, the gentlest of women, had so to speak all her feathers ruffled now.
"People say he drinks," answered Mrs. Wymans, with that sudden misgiving as to the wisdom of her words which made her wish them unsaid immediately they had passed her lips.