He hesitated a second. The child looked as though she would produce
one from her blouse like any conjurer. As yet, however, the article in
question had not entered his scheme of life. He declined it with many
thanks.
'I can get you a big one,' she urged. But even that did not tempt him.
'Will you have a cold-water bandage then--for your head--or anything?'
She seemed so afflicted with a desire to do something for him that he
almost said 'Yes'; only the fear that she might offer next a beehive
or a gramophone restrained him.
'Thank you _so_ much, but really I can manage without it--to-night.'
Jane Anne made no attempt to conceal her disappointment. What a man he
was, to be sure! And what a funny place the world was!
'It's Jinny's panacea,' said Mother, helping herself with reckless
uncertainty to a long word. 'She's never happy unless she's doing for
somebody,' she added ambiguously. 'It's her _metier_ in life.'
'Mother, what _are_ you saying?' said the child's expression. Then she
made one last attempt. She remembered, perhaps, the admiring way he
had watched her brother and sister's antics in the Den before. She was
not clever on her feet, but at least she could try.
'Shall I turn head over heels for you, then?'
He caught her mother's grave expression just in time to keep his
laughter back.
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