And you wouldn't stay and make it harder for me, would you, dear?"
He growled a reluctant assent. "I suppose I shall have to go," he said,
sullenly. "My allowance is too beastly small to have him cutting it; and
the old shark would do that very thing; he'd take delight in doing it,
confound him! Well, he knows what we think of him, that's some comfort."
She did not answer. He looked at her curiously.
"Why, hang it all, Caro!" he exclaimed in disgust; "what ails you?
Blessed if I sha'n't begin to believe you're sorry he's gone. You act as
if you were."
"No, I'm not. Of course I'm not. I'm--I'm glad. He couldn't stay, of
course. But I'm afraid--I can't help feeling that you and I were too
harsh last night. We said things--dreadful things--"
"Be hanged! We didn't say half enough. Oh, don't be a fool, Caro! I was
just beginning to be proud of your grit. And now you want to take it all
back. Honestly, girls are the limit! You don't know your own minds for
twelve consecutive hours. Answer me now! ARE you sorry he's gone?"
"No. No, I'm not, really. But I--I feel somehow as if--as if everything
was on my shoulders. You're going away, and he's gone, and--What is it,
Edwards?"
The butler entered, with a small parcel in his hand.
"I beg your pardon, Miss Caroline," he said.
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