"Why didn't you speak to me when I came in?"
"I didn't know you wanted to talk." Bauer looked actually hurt.
"Honest?"
"How could I know you wanted to talk."
"A woman always cares, Mr. Bauer."
"You seemed intent on your work and I am no mind reader."
"I had made up my mind not to speak first. But I broke my determination." The noisy little clock made itself prominent during the next half minute and then Bauer, to Helen's surprise, actually led off with a question.
"Would you tell me what you are making?"
Helen held up her work. "It's a sofa pillow cover. I'm making it for
Walter."
Bauer looked at it gravely. Helen would not have been surprised if any one of a dozen of her men friends had said, "I'd give anything for one like it."