A half smile hovered on Aunt Jane's lips. She took up the coffee-pot and reached to the sugar. "How many lumps?" she asked pleasantly. "Two, please," responded Herman Medfield. She placed them in the cup and poured in cream and filled the cup with coffee. "Looks like good coffee, this morning," she said quietly. "You got everything you want?" "I think so, yes." He looked at the tray with a little more interest and pecked at an egg. Aunt Jane nodded shrewdly and kindly and went out. It was only after she had gone that Herman Medfield remembered he had not spoken of the cigars. On the whole, he decided to wait until to-morrow for his cigar. VIII In Room 5 Mrs. John Pelton lay staring at the wall, with quiet face. From a clock-tower came the sound of the striking of the hour. She counted the strokes--nine o'clock. She wished it were ten and Dr. Carmon had come.... After he came and things began--the operation was only "things," even in the background of her mind--after Dr. Carmon got there and things began, it would not be so hard, she thought. It was the waiting part that was hard. She had had a restless night. There had seemed so many hours; and she had thought of things that she ought to have done before she left home.... She had forgotten to tell any one about Tommie's milk. He always got upset so easy! She wondered if Mrs. Colby would know. It had been good in Mrs. Colby to say she would come in and look after the children a little. But Mamie was really old enough to cook for them.... And she did hope John would be all right--and not worry about her.... He would be at work at ten--when "things" were going on. That was good!... Mrs. John Pelton knew that it was work that would carry John over the hard place--work that would take every nerve and thought for itself. John was a puddler and they were to "run" at ten o'clock--or about ten. He would have his hands full--enough to think about and not worry--till things were over.... He would come, after work hours, to see how she had got through. Then she had fallen asleep and dreamed she was slipping down a steep place--down, down, and couldn't stop--and some one had caught her arm.... And it was the nurse, waking her gently for something. And then she had dozed a little and wakened and wondered about the children again.... And no one had brought her any breakfast--not even a cup of coffee. "Nothing to eat this morning," the nurse had said, smiling, when she had plucked up courage to ask for something. The nurse was a nice girl--a good girl, Mrs. Pelton thought--but hardly older than Mamie, it seemed. That older woman was so good yesterday! Aunt Jane's look and cap came floating hazily to her; and she slipped a hand under her cheek and fell asleep, thinking of it.