I followed him to the narrow, greasy path, if it were a path.
It seemed to me one of those short cuts home that are certainly the longest way round! ... How could I—oh, how could I not have realized already that all I wanted was to be walking anywhere—for any distance—with him!
That realization was not to come yet....
But to go back to the beginning of this ramble, Captain Holiday, striding and smoking beside me, said:
"Am I engaged? Well, I say! May I tell you something about myself?"
"That would be a change! Generally, you want to be told things about other people!" I said.
He gave a short laugh.
"Yes; well, now you can have a bit of your own back. I want a woman's point of view on a certain matter. You're sure it won't bore you? I don't mind if it does," he added quickly, with that quicker smile that always brushed any offence out of his words. "Women are put here to listen to men's grousing. However! Seriously, I want to talk to you. You could help me about this."
"I? Help you?" I said. "D'you mean it?" But I knew he meant it. Sincerity was in his tone. Also a new note—appeal.
I could not help feeling pleased. He did not think me a fool then, even if he had seen me first in circumstances that might have given him that impression. He thought that I could help him in his own difficulty, whatever it was.