第10章

I'd like to see a better established wholesale drug business than Lamb and Company this side the Alleghanies--I don't say bigger, Isay better established--and it's kind of funny for a man that's been with a business like that as long as I have to hear it called a 'hole.' It's kind of funny when you think, yourself, you've done pretty fairly well in a business like that, and the men at the head of it seem to think so, too, and put your salary just about as high as anybody could consider customary-- well, what I mean, Alice, it's kind of funny to have your mother think it's mostly just--mostly just a failure, so to speak."His voice had become tremulous in spite of him; and this sign of weakness and emotion had sufficient effect upon Alice. She bent over him suddenly, with her arm about him and her cheek against his. "Poor papa!" she murmured. "Poor papa!""No, no," he said. "I didn't mean anything to trouble you. Ijust thought----" He hesitated. "I just wondered--I thought maybe it wouldn't be any harm if I said something about how things ARE down there. I got to thinking maybe you didn't understand it's a pretty good place. They're fine people to work for; and they've always seemed to think something of me;--the way they took Walter on, for instance, soon as I asked 'em, last year. Don't you think that looked a good deal as if they thought something of me, Alice?""Yes, papa," she said, not moving.

"And the work's right pleasant," he went on. "Mighty nice boys in our department, Alice. Well, they are in all the departments, for that matter. We have a good deal of fun down there some days."She lifted her head. "More than you do at home 'some days,' Iexpect, papa!" she said.

He protested feebly. "Now, I didn't mean that-- I didn't want to trouble you----"She looked at him through winking eyelashes. "I'm sorry I called it a 'hole,' papa.""No, no," he protested, gently. "It was your mother said that.""No. I did, too."

"Well, if you did, it was only because you'd heard her."She shook her head, then kissed him. "I'm going to talk to her,"she said, and rose decisively.

But at this, her father's troubled voice became quickly louder:

"You better let her alone. I just wanted to have a little talk with you. I didn't mean to start any--your mother won't----""Now, papa!" Alice spoke cheerfully again, and smiled upon him.

"I want you to quit worrying! Everything's going to be all right and nobody's going to bother you any more about anything. You'll see!"She carried her smile out into the hall, but after she had closed the door her face was all pity; and her mother, waiting for her in the opposite room, spoke sympathetically.

"What's the matter, Alice? What did he say that's upset you?""Wait a minute, mama." Alice found a handkerchief, used it for eyes and suffused nose, gulped, then suddenly and desolately sat upon the bed. "Poor, poor, POOR papa!" she whispered.

"Why?" Mrs. Adams inquired, mildly. "What's the matter with him? Sometimes you act as if he weren't getting well. What's he been talking about?""Mama--well, I think I'm pretty selfish. Oh, I do!""Did he say you were?"

"Papa? No, indeed! What I mean is, maybe we're both a little selfish to try to make him go out and hunt around for something new."Mrs. Adams looked thoughtful. "Oh, that's what he was up to!""Mama, I think we ought to give it up. I didn't dream it had really hurt him.""Well, doesn't he hurt us?"