And now to see him thin, white-haired, bent, his
old fire seemingly burned to gray ashes--the Duchess, who had seen
much in her generations, was almost appalled at the transformation.
At first the Duchess skillfully guided the talk among commonplaces.
"Larry tells me you're out with him."
"Yes," said Joe. "Larry's been a mighty good pal."
"What're you going to do when you get back your strength?"
"The same as I'm doing now--if they'll let me."
And after a pause: "Perhaps later, if I had the necessary capital, I'd
like to start a little nursery. Or else grow flowers for the market."
"Not going back to the old thing, then?"
Joe shook his white head. "I'm all through there. Flowers are a more
interesting proposition."
"Whenever you get ready to start, Joe, you can have all the capital
you want from me. And it will cost you nothing. Or if you'd rather
pay, it'll cost you the same as at a bank--six per cent."
"Thanks. I'll remember." Joe Ellison could not have spoken his
gratitude more strongly.
The Duchess now carefully guided the talk in the direction of the
thing of which she had thought so constantly.
"By the way, Joe, Larry told me something about you I'd never heard
before--that you had been married, and had a child."
"Yes.
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