Jake entered, and she turned her head, masking her embarrassment with a resolute effort. "Oh, Jake, come and sit down! I am so sorry this has happened."
He pulled forward a chair and dropped into it. "The little chap is overtired," he said. "He’ll be better left to himself for a bit."
He spoke in a quiet, temperate voice. She realized with relief that he had not taken Bunny’s bitter outburst seriously. She took up her work again.
"He is always difficult to manage when he gets caught by one of these moods," she said. "And he is apt to say wild things."
Jake began to fill his pipe, making no comment.
Maud worked on for several seconds, still struggling against an uneasy feeling of shyness.
After a little, in a low voice she spoke again. "Jake, I think--with you--that if Dr. Capper will examine Bunny and--and perhaps operate on him, it had better be done--as soon as possible."
She knew that he turned his head to look at her, and a hot sense of discomfiture surged through her. She worked with fevered speed, as if much depended upon it.
"Of course--of course I want him to have--every chance. I am not so selfish as that. But--but--the anxiety will be very hard to bear. I dread it more than I can possibly say."
Her lips quivered suddenly. She became silent, still desperately making stitches that she could hardly see. She had not meant to make any appeal for sympathy. It had, as it were, escaped her from sheer embarrassment. She had never felt more utterly ill at ease in Jake’s presence than she felt that night.
He did not immediately respond though she knew that he continued to watch her with those lynx-like, brilliant eyes. But after a very decided pause, his hand, square and steady, came forth and stopped her fevered working.
"Sit still for a bit, my girl!" he said. "Give yourself a rest!"
She started sharply at his touch, but gave in at once, suffering him to draw the work from her hands.
"Say, now," he said, "when you married me, I made myself a vow that you shouldn’t be burdened any more beyond your strength. This anxiety you speak of, will it be harder to bear than to see Bunny suffering and not be able to help?"
She shook her head. Her eyes were full of tears.
"Guess you’re overwrought," he said gently. "Why don’t you lie down on the sofa? P’raps you’d get a sleep."