Hayes received this with a look of embarrassment, as though the words offended not his pride but a sense of delicacy which Vance had never suspected in him. He stood in the grass below the doorstep and looked up at Vance, and Vance looked down on him without making any motion to invite him in.

"Why, I didn't come on business—" Hayes began.

Vance continued to stand squarely on the upper step. "What did you come for?" he asked; and he saw the blood purple the other's ruddy face. "I presume you think it's rather too early in the day for a call?" Hayes continued. He was evidently trying for a tone of conciliatory ease. "Fact is, I heard by accident you were living out in these parts, and as I was running up to the Hudson to spend Sunday I thought you and Mrs. Weston would excuse me if I dropped in on the way… ."

Vance continued to stare at him. "Is this Sunday?" he asked.

"Why, yes." Hayes hesitated a moment. "I'm sorry if I butted in. But see here, Weston—you look sick. Can I do anything? Is there anything wrong?"

Vance pushed his hair back from his forehead. He realized for the first time that he was unshaved, unwashed, with the fever of his wakeful nights in his eyes. He looked again at Hayes, with a last impulse of contempt and futile anger. A trivial retort rose to his lips; but his voice caught in his throat, he felt the muscles of his face working, and suddenly he broke into sobs. In a moment Hayes was by his side. Vance pressed his fists against his eyes; then he turned and the two men looked at each other.

"Laura Lou?"

Vance nodded. He walked back into the house and Hayes followed him.

"Christ, it's cold in here!" Hayes exclaimed below his breath.

"Yes. I know. I made the fire, but it's gone out again. The woman didn't come back… ."

"The woman?"

"The hired woman. When she saw the hemorrhage last night she bolted. The doctor's trying to find a nurse." The two spoke to each other in whispers. Hayes's flush had faded at Vance's last words, and his face had the ghastly sallowness of full-blooded men when their colour goes.

"Damn the nurse. Here, I guess I'll do as good as any nurse." He lowered his voice still more to add: "Is it warmer in where she is?" Vance nodded. "Then I'll get this fire started first off." He pulled off his coat and looked about him. "You go back to her—I'll see to things. I'm used to camping. Don't you mind about me… ."