Part 13 (1/2)
”Me? You must get younger eyes than mine, Heriot.”
”I can count them,” he answered.
”_You_ can! But I thought you'd been complaining you couldn't always recognize people across the street nowadays.”
”I can count those chimneys,” he repeated. ”I've counted them five times, and they come to fourteen each time. I'd like to get some one younger to count them too. Where's Madge Dunbar?”
He started impetuously for the door.
”She's dressing!” cried the horrified lady. ”You can't get her in here--you with your coat off, too!”
Mr. Walkingshaw turned back.
”Well, anyhow,” said he, ”I'll lay you half a crown there are fourteen chimneys on Henderson's house. Will you take it up?”
”When did you hear I'd taken to betting?” she gasped.
He waved aside the reproach airily, much as he waved aside everything she said nowadays, the poor lady reflected. His next words merely deepened her distress.
”Look at my face carefully,” he commanded. ”Study it--touch it if you like--examine it with a lens--give it your undivided attention while I count twenty.”
He counted slowly, while she stared conscientiously, afraid even to wink. ”Now, what have you observed?”
”You're looking very well, Heriot,” she answered timidly.
”Did you ever see a man of my age look better?”
”N--no,” she stammered.
”Well, don't be afraid to say so, for it's perfectly true. Do you mind a kind of deep wrinkle under my eyes? Where's that gone now?”
”I can't imagine, Heriot.”
”Well, don't look distressed; it's bonnier away.”
”Yes,” she said in a fl.u.s.tered voice, ”you do have a kind of smoother look.”
”Smoother and harder,” he replied, prodding his ribs with his fingers.
She gave a little cry of distress.
”You're growing thin! Your waistcoat's hanging quite loose. Oh, Heriot, it's terrible to see you that way!”
Her heart might be a little withered by all those northern winters, with never another heart to keep it warm, but it could still beat faster at a breath of suspicion cast upon her hospitality. She had not been feeding her only brother properly!
”Tell me yourself what you'd like for your dinner!” she entreated him.
He laughed at her genially.