“You bet I will,” he exclaimed; “you bet I’ll stay with you tonight. Business can go to the devil! And we won’t go out either; we’ll stay right here. You get something to read to me, and we’ll have one of our old evenings again. We⁠—”

All at once Jadwin paused, laid down his knife and fork, and looked strangely to and fro about the room.

“We’ll have one of our old evenings again,” he repeated, slowly.

“What is it, Curtis?” demanded his wife. “What is the matter?”

“Oh⁠—nothing,” he answered.

“Why, yes there was. Tell me.”

“No, no. I’m all right now,” he returned, briskly enough.

“No,” she insisted. “You must tell me. Are you sick?”