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And Jo Hertz was again just the dull； gray； commonplace brother of
three well…meaning sisters。
Babe used to say petulantly； 〃Jo； why don't you ever bring home any
of your men friends？ A girl might as well not have any brother； all the
good you do。〃
Jo； conscience…stricken； did his best to make amends。 But a man who
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has been petticoat…ridden for years loses the knack； somehow； of
comradeship with men。
One Sunday in May Jo came home from a late…Sunday…afternoon walk
to find company for supper。 Carrie often had in one of her schoolteacher
friends； or Babe one of her frivolous intimates； or even Eva a staid guest
of the old…girl type。 There was always a Sunday…night supper of potato
salad； and cold meat； and coffee； and perhaps a fresh cake。 Jo rather
enjoyed it； being a hospitable soul。 But he regarded the guests with the
undazzled eyes of a man to whom they were just so many petticoats； timid
of the night streets and requiring escort home。 If you had suggested to
him that some of his sisters' popularity was due to his own presence； or if
you had hinted that the more kittenish of these visitors were probably
making eyes at him； he would have stared in amazement and unbelief。
This Sunday night it turned out to be one of Carrie's friends。
〃Emily；〃 said Carrie； 〃this is my brother； Jo。〃
Jo had learned what to expect in Carrie's friends。 Drab…looking
women in the late thirties； whose facial lines all slanted downward。
〃Happy to meet you；〃 said Jo； and looked down at a different sort
altogether。 A most surprisingly different sort； for one of Carrie's friends。
This Emily person was very small； and fluffy； and blue…eyed； and crinkly
looking。 The corners of her mouth when she smiled； and her eyes when
she looked up at you； and her hair； which was brown； but had the
miraculous effect； somehow； of looking golden。
Jo shook hands with her。 Her hand was incredibly small； and soft； so
that you were afraid of crushing it； until you discovered she had a firm
little grip all her own。 It surprised and amused you； that grip； as does a
baby's unexpected clutch on your patronizing forefinger。 As Jo felt it in
his own big clasp； the strangest thing happened to him。 Something inside
Jo Hertz stopped working for a moment； then lurched sickeningly； then
thumped like mad。 It was his heart。 He stood staring down at her； and
she up at him； until the others laughed。 Then their hands fell apart；
lingeringly。
〃Are you a schoolteacher； Emily？〃 he said。
〃Kindergarten。 It's my first year。 And don't call me Emily； please。〃
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〃Why not？ It's your name。 I think it's the prettiest name in the
world。〃 Which he hadn't meant to say at all。 In fact； he was perfectly
aghast to find himself saying it。 But he meant it。
At supper he passed her things； and stared； until everybody laughed
again； and Eva said acidly； 〃Why don't you feed her？〃
It wasn't that Emily had an air of helplessness。 She just made him
feel he wanted her to be helpless； so that he could help her。
Jo took her home； and from that Sunday night he began to strain at the
leash。 He took his sisters out； dutifully； but he would suggest； with a
carelessness that deceived no one； 〃Don't you want one of your girl friends
to come along？ That little What's…her…name…Emily； or something。 So
long's I've got three of you； I might as well have a full squad。〃
For a long time he didn't know what was the matter with him。 He
only knew he was miserable； and yet happy。 Sometimes his heart seemed
to ache with an actual physical ache。 He realized that he wanted to do
things for Emily。 He wanted to buy things for Emilyuseless； pretty；
expensive things that he couldn't afford。
He wanted to buy everything that Emily needed； and everything that
Emily desired。 He wanted to marry Emily。 That was it。 He discovered
that one day； with a shock； in the midst of a transaction in the harness
business。 He stared at the man with whom he was dealing until that
startled person grew uncomfortable。 〃What's the matter； Hertz？〃
〃Matter？〃 〃You look as if you'd seen a ghost or found a gold mine。 I
don't know which。〃 〃Gold mine；〃 said Jo。 And then； 〃No。 Ghost。〃
For he remembered that high； thin voice； and his promise。 And the
harness business was slithering downhill with dreadful rapidity； as the
automobile business began its amazing climb。 Jo tried to stop it。 But he
was not that kind of businessman。 It never occurred to him to jump out
of the down…going vehicle and catch the up…going one。 He stayed on；
vainly applying brakes that refused to work。 〃You know； Emily； I
couldn't support two households now。 Not the way things are。 But if
you'll wait。 If you'll only wait。 The girls mightthat is； Babe and
Carrie〃
She was a sensible little thing； Emily。 〃Of course I'll wait。 But we
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mustn't just sit back and let the years go by。 We've got to help。〃
She went about it as if she were already a little matchmaking matron。
She corralled all the men she had ever known and introduced them to
Babe； Carrie； and Eva separately； in pairs； and en masse。 She got up
picnics。 She stayed home while Jo took the three about。 When she was
present she tried to look as plain and obscure as possible； so that the sisters
should show up to advantage。 She schemed； and planned； and contrived；
and hoped； and smiled into Jo's despairing eyes。
And three years went by。 Three precious years。 Carr