They were talking at cross purposes, the old resentment flaring up. When Ellen was in this mood, it was better to change the subject. Olivia had experienced it before. It had to do, she surmised, with the children. Something hurt Ellen. Of all her children, only Nick really shared anything with her. The other two had fled their father and cut themselves off early. They had, as a matter of fact, made choices and gone up a step in the world, both Micah and his sister Sarah, who had a good job with the telephone company in Laconia. The thing Ellen longed for could not be uttered. She needed cherishing, Olivia thought. But she was a hard person to help. Put out a hand and, like as not, it would be slapped down. But one thing could be said for Ellen—she didn’t treat grown-up people as children. Olivia had had many serious talks with her when she was in high school and college. In some ways she felt more at home here than even up at the Ark. So now she sighed and went on thinking in the good warm silence—warm even in disagreement, for the wonderful thing about Ellen was her tart honesty. I guess I can say just about anything to her, Olivia was thinking. Was there anyone else, except maybe John, of whom she could say that?

“I guess what I really think,” Ellen said as if she had been meeting Olivia through the silence, “is that maybe Christina needs this quiet time right now—this time with Cornelius, alone.” Then she added, “And maybe Cathy has to go through with something she thinks she hates.”

“Well, that’s the question. And anyway her parents would have to decide. It’s none of my business, as a matter of fact.”

“Oh, families!” Ellen laughed.

“What does that mean?”

“Getting in each other’s hair, but maybe that’s what it’s all about. Sarah thinks Nick should go back to the hospital and have a talk with a doctor there. I flew off the handle—but she may be right. We just have to do the best we can, Olivia.”

“I often feel as if I had been born to see everything and be able to do nothing,” Olivia said.

“Still, in your work you must be able to do a lot for people.”

“I wish I thought so. Half the time we are caught in some law, or lack of money, or one of the infinite coils of the damned bureaucracy.” She pushed her hair back. “Oh, Ellen, it’s good to talk with you!”

“I don’t know why.”

“Because you listen; so few people do. And because you’re honest; so few people are.”

“An ornery old critter,” Ellen said as Olivia got up to go. “But I guess I wear well, like an old sap bucket.”