The surroundings had never looked so bare as then, and a sense of the loneliness of the shabby furnishings filled her. The ghastliness of the arc-lights, the forbidding whiteness of the walls, and the penetrating odors of the kitchen seemed all brought out by the presence of a man alone.
Mrs. Whitney continued to jest, but Gertrude responded mechanically. Glover was eating his supper when the two rose from their table, and Mrs. Whitney led the way toward him.
"So, this is the invalid," she said, halting abruptly before him. "Mrs. Whitney!" exclaimed Glover, trying hastily to rise as he caught sight of Gertrude.
"Will you please be seated?" commanded Mrs. Whitney. "I insist----"
He sat down. "We want only to remind you," she went on, "that we hate to be completely ignored by the engineering department even when _not_ officially in its charge."
"But, Mrs. Whitney, I can't sit if you are to stand," he answered, greeting Gertrude and her aunt together.
"You are an invalid; be seated. Nothing but toast?" objected Mrs. Whitney, drawing out a chair and sitting down. "Do you expect to mend broken ribs on toast?"
"I'm well mended, thank you. Do I look like an invalid?"
"But we heard you were seriously hurt." He laughed. "And want to suggest Glen Tarn as a health resort."
"Unfortunately, the doctor has discharged me. In fact, a broken rib doesn't entitle a man to a lay-off. I hope your sister continues to improve?" he added, looking at Gertrude.
"She does, thank you. Mrs. Whitney and I have been talking of the day we met you at the irrigation--" he did not help her to a word--"works," she continued, feeling the slight confusion of the pause. "You"--he looked at her so calmly that it was still confusing--"you were hurt before we met you and we must have seemed unconcerned under the circumstances. We speak often at Glen Tarn of the delightful weeks we spent in your mountain wilds last summer," she added.
Glover thanked her, but appeared absorbed in Mrs. Whitney's attempt to disengage her eye-glasses from their holder, and Gertrude made no further effort to break his restraint. Mrs. Whitney talked, and Glover talked, but Gertrude reserved her bolt until just before their train started.