Chapter 13

           NicolekeptintouchwithDickafterhernewmarriage;therewerelettersonbusinessmatters,andaboutthechildren.Whenshesaid,assheoftendid,"IlovedDickandI’llneverforgethim,"Tommyanswered,"Ofcoursenot—whyshouldyou?"

           DickopenedanofficeinBuffalo,butevidentlywithoutsuccess.Nicoledidnotfindwhatthetroublewas,butsheheardafewmonthslaterthathewasinalittletownnamedBatavia,N.Y.,practisinggeneralmedicine,andlaterthathewasinLockport,doingthesamething.Byaccidentsheheardmoreabouthislifetherethananywhere:thathebicycledalot,wasmuchadmiredbytheladies,andalwayshadabigstackofpapersonhisdeskthatwereknowntobeanimportanttreatiseonsomemedicalsubject,almostinprocessofcompletion.Hewasconsideredtohavefinemannersandoncemadeagoodspeechatapublichealthmeetingonthesubjectofdrugs;buthebecameentangledwithagirlwhoworkedinagrocerystore,andhewasalsoinvolvedinalawsuitaboutsomemedicalquestion;soheleftLockport.

           Afterthathedidn’taskforthechildrentobesenttoAmericaanddidn’tanswerwhenNicolewroteaskinghimifheneededmoney.InthelastlettershehadfromhimhetoldherthathewaspractisinginGeneva,NewYork,andshegottheimpressionthathehadsettleddownwithsomeonetokeephouseforhim.ShelookedupGenevainanatlasandfounditwasintheheartoftheFingerLakesSectionandconsideredapleasantplace