Sometimes she fancied that when she resolutely assumed a cheerful tone,
and determined to fight this unwholesome atmosphere with honest bravery,
she merely succeeded in making Jim's mood uglier than ever. Often she
tried a shy tenderness, but with no success.
One day when Miss Toland was lunching with her Julia made some allusion
to the subject, in answer to the older woman's comment that she did not
look very well.
"I'm _not_ very well, Aunt Sanna," said Julia, pushing her plate away, and
resting both slim elbows on the table. "I'm worried."
"Not about Anna?" Miss Toland asked quickly.
"No-o! Anna, God bless her, is simply six-months-old perfection!" Julia
said, with a brief smile. "No--about myself and Jim."
Miss Toland gave her a shrewd glance.
"Quarrelled, eh?" she said simply.
"Oh, no!" Julia felt her eyes watering. "No. I almost wish we had.
Because then I could go to him, and say 'I'm sorry!'" she stammered.
"Sorry for what?" demanded Miss Toland.
"For whatever I'd done!" elucidated Julia, with her April smile.
"Yes, but suppose he'd done it, what then?" Miss Toland asked.
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