A spirit that was new to her
seemed to fill the room. She felt it as one may feel the bigness of the
mountains or sense the vast reaches of the ocean. These two men,
employer and employee, were in no way conscious of their relationship
as she understood it. Tom did not appear to realize that he was working
_for_ John--he seemed rather to feel that he was working _with_ John.
When the man was gone, she asked again, timidly, "Are you sure,
brother, that I am not in the way?"
"Forget it!" he cried. "Tell me what I can do for you."
"I want to see the Mill," she answered.
John did not apparently quite understand her request. "You want to see
the Mill?" he repeated.
She nodded eagerly. "I want to see it all--not just the office but
where the men work--everything."
She laughed at his bewildered expression as the sincerity of her wish
dawned upon him.
"But what in the world"--he began--"why this sudden interest in the
Mill, Helen?"
Half teasing, half laughing, she answered, "You didn't really think,
did you, John, that I would forget everything you said to me at the old
house?"
"No," he said, doubtfully. "At least, I suppose I didn't. But,
honestly, I didn't think that I had made much of an impression."
She made a little gesture of helpless resignation.
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