"A kind of Irish
stew of a fever."
"You are not infectious?"
"Certainly not."
Mrs. Porter checked Ruth as she was about to speak.
"We owe it to William to be careful," she explained. "After all the
trouble we have taken to exclude him from germs it is only reasonable
to make these inquiries."
"Come along, dear," said Ruth, "and I'll show you the house. Don't mind
Aunt Lora," she whispered; "she means well, and she really is splendid
with Bill."
Kirk followed her. He was feeling chilled again. His old mistrust of
Mrs. Porter revived. If their brief interview was to be taken as
evidence, she seemed to have regained entirely her old ascendancy over
Ruth. He felt vaguely uneasy, as a man might who walks in a powder
magazine.
"Aunt Lora lives here now," observed Ruth casually, as they went
upstairs.
Kirk started.
"Literally, do you mean? Is this her home?"
Ruth smiled at him over her shoulder.
"She won't interfere with you," she said. "Surely this great house is
large enough for the three of us. Besides, she's so devoted to Bill.
She looks after him all the time; of course, nowadays I don't get quite
so much time to be with him myself. One has an awful lot of calls on
one. I feel Bill is so safe with Aunt Lora on the premises."
She stopped at a door on the first floor.
"This is Bill's nursery.
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