Part 23 (2/2)
He seized her hands ”You DO care for me, don't you?” he cried
She hesitated ”I don't quite know,” said she Then, less seriously: ”Not at all, I'erandmother!”
”I wish so, too,” confessed he ”I lanced at him quickly ”Why do you say that?”
”I don't know,” he stao you seeuess I went too far I wasn't very polite”
”You never are”
”I' to try to do better No, I don't think it would be wise forat hiely ”Why are you so anxious to conciliate her?”
He sahat a break he had made, became all at once red and inarticulate
”What is she to you?” persisted the girl
”Nothing at all,” he blustered ”I don't care--THAT”--he snapped his fingers--”for her opinion I don't care if everybody in the world is against ourI want just you--only you”
”Obviously,” said she with a dry laugh that was highly disconcerting to him ”I certainly have no fortune--or hope of one, so far as I know”
This so astounded, so disconcerted hirand, was unable to finish
”Go on,” she urged, obviously enjoying his hot confusion
He becaaret,” he cried, ”you don't suspect hed quietly at hirande you did” She rose and called, ”Lucia! Lucia!” The round, rosy, rather slovenly Miss Severence appeared in the little balcony--the only part of the house in view from where they sat
”Telephone the stables for the saret
”Mother's out in it,” replied Lucia
”Then the sham”
”I want that Why don't you take the electric?”
”All right”
Lucia disappeared Margaret turned upon the deeply-i