"
She gave him a flashing glance, and it was as kind as he said she was.
"That sounds wrong," she said, impulsively. "I mean 'Miss Vertrees.'
I've thought of you by your first name ever since I met you. Wouldn't
you rather call me 'Mary'?"
Bibbs was dazzled; he drew a long, deep breath and did not speak.
"Wouldn't you?" she asked, without a trace of coquetry.
"If I CAN!" he said, in a low voice.
"Ah, that's very pretty!" she laughed. "You're such an honest person,
it's pleasant to have you gallant sometimes, by way of variety."
She became grave again immediately. "I hear myself laughing as if
it were some one else. It sounds like laughter on the eve of a great
calamity." She got up restlessly, crossed the room and leaned against
the wall, facing him. "You've GOT to go back to that place?"
He nodded.
"And the other time you did it--"
"Just over it," said Bibbs. "Two years. But I don't mind the
prospect of a repetition so much as--"
"So much as what?" she prompted, as he stopped.
Bibbs looked up at her shyly. "I want to say it, but--but I come
to a dead balk when I try. I--"
"Go on. Say it, whatever it is," she bade him.
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