She looked at him tragically. "The money is spent," she said.
He coloured to the roots of his hair. "But ill-health--ill-health
excuses everything. If he goes away now he will come back good for
twice the amount of work in the spring. A sculptor is not expected
to deliver a statue on a given day, like a package of groceries! You
must do as the doctor says--you must make him chuck everything and
go."
They had reached a windless nook above the lake, and, pausing in the
stress of their talk, she let herself sink on a bench beside the
path. The movement encouraged him, and he seated himself at her
side.
"You must take him away at once," he repeated urgently. "He must be
made comfortable--you must both be free from worry. And I want you
to let me manage it for you--"
He broke off, silenced by her rising blush, her protesting murmur.
"Oh, stop, please; let me explain. I'm not talking of lending you
money; I'm talking of giving you--myself. The offer may be just as
unacceptable, but it's of a kind to which it's customary to accord
it a hearing.
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