“You would have known I was coming if you’d been calling here recently.” She pushed her feet near the fender, and gazed into the fire.

“Ah! But you see I haven’t been calling recently.”

She raised her eyes to his. “I suppose you’ve never thought about me once since I left!” she fired at him. An audacious and discomposing girl!

“Oh yes, I have,” he said weakly. What could you reply to such speeches? Nevertheless he was flattered.

“Really? But you’ve never inquired about me.”

“Yes, I have.”

“Only once.”

“How do you know?”

“I asked Janet.”

“Damn her!” he said to himself, but pleased with her. And aloud, in a tone suddenly firm, “That’s nothing to go by.”