“I thought you were wearing goggles, Jarvis,” she said.  Mrs. Burnside turned with a reproachful expression, and with a laugh Jarvis drew the goggles out of his pocket and replaced them.

“A fellow gets tired of viewing life through these things,” he explained.  “And I’ve been seeing you in imagination through blue spectacles, so to speak, for five weeks now.  I thought I’d like a glimpse of your true complexion.”

Sally put up two thin hands and pinched her cheeks fiercely.  “I believe I must resemble a tallow candle,” she complained.  “What can you people expect of a patient just out of the hospital?”

“We’d like to get you where nature would attend to putting on the rouge—­eh, mother?” and Jarvis thought of his friend Max with a strong desire to take that refractory young man by the collar and argue with him with his fists.  If it had not been for Max’s stubbornness, Sally would not now be suffering the discomfort of this unspeakable apartment.

When he and his mother had reached the outer air again and were driving away, Jarvis burst out:  “Something must be done!  If Sally won’t let you and Jo have her—­and that wouldn’t be getting her out of the city, only into a more bearable in-door atmosphere—­she must be taken into the country.  Jo’s plan is perfectly feasible.  A tent in that pine grove would do the business.  Mother, I’m going to put one there.  If Max doesn’t like it, he can stay away.”

“Jarvis, dear, how can you do that?  Max would resent that high-handed way of managing his affairs.”

“I dare say he would.  What of that?  If ever a frail child needed to get out-doors, Sally does.  Aren’t we old friends enough to take things into our own hands?”

“Max won’t accept a tent from you—­or Sally, either.”

“Won’t they?  They won’t have to.  It’ll be my tent; I’ll lend it to them.”  Jarvis grinned, his white teeth making a striking contrast to the sombre effect of his big goggles.

“Hold on, Cheney,” he said to the coachman.  “Let me out at the corner of Seventeenth.  I will look up the tent business right here and now.”

His mother looked after his tall figure as he hurried away through the down town crowds, his straw hat a little pushed back, as it was wont to be in moments of excitement.  She herself felt like heartily aiding and abetting his friendly schemes, for Sally was very dear to her motherly heart, and it had seemed to her impossible that the girl should recover her strength while shut up in the little flat.  If the heat lasted—­and there were no indications of any near break in the high temperature—­it would certainly be a severe test on the young convalescent, and might seriously retard her in the important business of getting back her old vigour.

Within an hour Jarvis was at home again, in time for dinner.  He came to the table with a catalogue in his hand.  Determination was written large upon his face.  Josephine had heard from her mother of his expressed intention, and she eyed the catalogue eagerly.