"I thought _you_ would, Montague, and it's mighty good to know of Gladys and the rest. A woman can do much at such times."
"And you mustn't think of it until you're out of this place," Pendleton urged. "Your business is to get well; we'll look after Stephanie, you may depend on it."
He moved toward the door, and Miss Sayles appeared at the same moment.
"Here is the nurse to send me away!" he smiled. "Good-bye--and we'll look for you at the Club in a week."
"Good-bye, Pendleton, old man," said Lorraine faintly.
He sank back among the pillows and closed his eyes. He could see it, though the other had tried hard to hide it. Pendleton had no interest whatever in him--he had forfeited all claims for sympathy by his vacillating course. All the men had lost patience with him. They might feel for him as a victim of bodily pain, and try to make it easy for him because thereof, but he knew--he _knew_. He had been a fool--he was still a fool maybe in trying to make it up with Stephanie--yet it was the only decent thing to do--the only thing he wanted to do. He made a gesture of despair--and the nurse came over and spoke to him.
But he did not hear, or did not answer--and after a moment she went back and sat down. She understood in part. Everyone in town was aware of the Lorraines' troubles--and _she_ knew, also, of Stephanie's visit to her husband and how it had terminated.
As for Pendleton, he went to the Club dissatisfied with himself and with what he had done. He had no patience with Lorraine's conduct and Lorraine knew it--at least he had never been at any pains to conceal it--and now he was constrained, by regard for an injured man, to appear to help him, when _he_ hoped for nothing so much as Stephanie's divorce. She was committed to his care--to him, who was the last man Lorraine should have selected to trust.... And maybe Lorraine also knew it--and chose him because of that very fact, tied his hands by trusting him, with full confidence that he not only would not violate the trust, but that he would be vigilant to see that no one else trespassed. He had not credited Lorraine with so much foresight and knowledge of specific human nature. It might be he erred in the credit, but nevertheless it bound _him_.--_Noblesse oblige._