Chapter 17

"Down in a few minutes," announced Hester, passing the door on her way to the dining room to give an order. Reassured, he continued to wait, more impatiently than ever, listening to the light footsteps overhead. How would she look when she appeared? Rested, he hoped. He wanted to give her one of those evenings by the fire which had to him, in the deep country in winter, a quality of which she knew nothing. What were evenings by the fire to a city dweller in an apartment like that of Ross's sister--if they had a fir…