'Sleep, eh? Does he give you dope?'
Innes shrugged. Alice smiled, uncertainly.
'Donald Follett is getting old,' Maud said. 'That's a good spring, that is.' She punched the bed again, and Innes groaned.
'Well, sleep tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite.' Maud grinned and trundled off.
Innes sighed.
About ten o'clock Fred came in to do his turn as combination valet and male nurse. He'd taken upon himself the job of getting Innes ready for the night. Alice escaped. But when she was called back and Innes lay washed and smoothed out, she took her cue from Fred's eyebrow and began carefully.
'Innes, about tomorrow and Mr. Killeen coming . . .'
'Yes?'
'Well, they know, I'm afraid.'
'Know? What do you mean? Who knows?'
'Your sisters. They know he's coming and . . . and why, Innes. So Fred and I think we'll just keep an eye on everything all night tonight. Just so you won't have to worry.'
Innes said angrily, 'Who told them?'
'Isabel heard me talking to Fred. It was an accident'
'Accident, hell,' said Fred.
'So we thought we'd watch,' said Alice quickly, while Innes looked wildly from one to the other. 'And I thought you ought to know.' Detached, she could see his panic growing. 'Would you like one of us to stay in here with you?'
Innes said nothing.
'I thought I'd just hang around outside the door, sir,'' Fred said. 'I can sit on the backstairs and keep quiet.'
At that Innes seemed to melt with relief. 'You're being awfully good to me, both of you,' he said weakly. 'But you must get some sleep, Alice.'
'It doesn't matter,' she murmured.
'Would you leave us a moment, Fred, please? But come back.'
Fred went out without a word.
Innes said loving things. He said he appreciated her devotion. He thought she was wonderful. She was beautiful and good. He was a lucky man. He adored her. Did she know that? He hadn't said a great deal, all day, but he knew. He knew she was there. Her loyalty made him love her even more. He knew now, said Innes, that she must care for him. And it made him very happy.
Alice listened miserably.
It made him very happy because once, long ago, he had thought he was in love and beloved in return. He had had a rude awakening.
'Oh, Innes, don't,' she said. 'Please go to sleep now.'
What a charming tyrant she was, said Innes archly. He would be good if she'd kiss him nicely.
'Shall I call Fred now?' she begged.
When Fred came in, Innes changed. He was a frightened man. 'I hate to let you sit up all night,' he fretted. 'It's a great deal to expect.' Still, it was perfectly plain that he did expect it, because he went on to say that such devotion warranted a reward and Fred would find him unable to forget this,
Alice watched Fred squirm with malicious pleasure.
'Alice, my dear, do you think you could find another blanket? The doctor said . . . And I am chilly.' Nerves, she thought. 'In the closet, I think. On the shelf.' His voice directed her shrilly.
Alice went in the closet. 'I can't reach.'
Fred came.The closet was fairly smaU for two people to stand in. Fred stretched his arms up for the blanket. He
could barely reach and as he yanked it tumbled down, landing on her head.
'Oh, say. I'm sorry.'
Alice let out a muffled giggle. The blanket slipped back of her. Fred reached to grab it, and all of a sudden they both realized that his arms were an oval and she stood inside. Her mussed-up hair brushed his chin. For a moment she couldn't breathe. Neither was he breathing. Then Fred dropped his hold on the blanket, and Alice felt it fall around her heels. He backed into the hangers. She stepped out into the room as Innes said, 'Can't you find it?' querulously.
'We found it,' said Alice, out of breath. 'It fell on me. She smoothed her hair at the mirror, seeing Fred's reflection come forth with the blanket and stolidly proceed to drape it over the bed. He said, 'Is that all, sir?' quietly like a servant.
Innes said that was all, thank you, and good night Fred.
When Fred had gone, Alice looked at her watch. 'It's just after eleven,' she announced, 'so I think . . .'
