"I want my little broom," she exclaimed and marched sedately past, at which manifestation of spirit Lester again twitched internally, this time allowing the slightest suggestion of a smile to play across his mouth.
The final effect of this intercourse was gradually to break down the feeling of distaste Lester had for the child, and to establish in its place a sort of tolerant recognition of her possibilities as a human being.
The developments of the next six months were of a kind to further relax the strain of opposition which still existed in Lester's mind.
Although not at all resigned to the somewhat tainted atmosphere in which he was living, he yet found himself so comfortable that he could not persuade himself to give it up.
It was too much like a bed of down.
Jennie was too worshipful.
The condition of unquestioned liberty, so far as all his old social relationships were concerned, coupled with the privilege of quiet, simplicity, and affection in the home was too inviting.
He lingered on, and began to feel that perhaps it would be just as well to let matters rest as they were.
During this period his friendly relations with the little Vesta insensibly strengthened.
He discovered that there was a real flavor of humor about Vesta's doings, and so came to watch for its development.
She was forever doing something interesting, and although Jennie watched over her with a care that was in itself a revelation to him, nevertheless Vesta managed to elude every effort to suppress her and came straight home with her remarks.
Once, for example, she was sawing away at a small piece of meat upon her large plate with her big knife, when Lester remarked to Jennie that it might be advisable to get her a little breakfast set.
"She can hardly handle these knives."
"Yes," said Vesta instantly.
"I need a little knife.
My hand is just so very little."
She held it up.
Jennie, who never could tell what was to follow, reached over and put it down, while Lester with difficulty restrained a desire to laugh.
Another morning, not long after, she was watching Jennie put the lumps of sugar in Lester's cup, when she broke in with,
"I want two lumps in mine, mamma."
"No, dearest," replied Jennie, "you don't need any in yours.
You have milk to drink."
"Uncle Lester has two," she protested.
"Yes," returned Jennie; "but you're only a little girl.
Besides you mustn't say anything like that at the table.
It isn't nice."
"Uncle Lester eats too much sugar," was her immediate rejoinder, at which that fine gourmet smiled broadly.
"I don't know about that," he put in, for the first time deigning to answer her directly.
"That sounds like the fox and grapes to me."
Vesta smiled back at him, and now that the ice was broken she chattered on unrestrainedly.
One thing led to another, and at last Lester felt as though, in a way, the little girl belonged to him; he was willing even that she should share in such opportunities as his position and wealth might make possible—provided, of course, that he stayed with Jennie, and that they worked out some arrangement which would not put him hopelessly out of touch with the world which was back of him, and which he had to keep constantly in mind.
CHAPTER XXXII
The following spring the show-rooms and warehouse were completed, and Lester removed his office to the new building.
Heretofore, he had been transacting all his business affairs at the Grand Pacific and the club.
From now on he felt himself to be firmly established in Chicago—as if that was to be his future home.
A large number of details were thrown upon him—the control of a considerable office force, and the handling of various important transactions.
It took away from him the need of traveling, that duty going to Amy's husband, under the direction of Robert.
The latter was doing his best to push his personal interests, not only through the influence he was bringing to bear upon his sisters, but through his reorganization of the factory.
Several men whom Lester was personally fond of were in danger of elimination.
But Lester did not hear of this, and Kane senior was inclined to give Robert a free hand. Age was telling on him.
He was glad to see some one with a strong policy come up and take charge.
Lester did not seem to mind.
Apparently he and Robert were on better terms than ever before.
Matters might have gone on smoothly enough were it not for the fact that Lester's private life with Jennie was not a matter which could be permanently kept under cover.
At times he was seen driving with her by people who knew him in a social and commercial way.
He was for brazening it out on the ground that he was a single man, and at liberty to associate with anybody he pleased.
Jennie might be any young woman of good family in whom he was interested.
He did not propose to introduce her to anybody if he could help it, and he always made it a point to be a fast traveler in driving, in order that others might not attempt to detain and talk to him.
At the theater, as has been said, she was simply "Miss Gerhardt."
The trouble was that many of his friends were also keen observers of life.