It was on the tip of his tongue to say that in her case it wasn’t necessary. Instead he asked: “Do you do that with Tom? Does he appreciate it?”
She threw up her hands in an abandonment to merriment “Tom! He hates it Poor Tom! Haven’t I told you he drizzles?”
When no answer was returned, she began to sing provocatively:
“If no one ever marries me,
And I don’t see why he should.
For Nurse says I am not pretty
And I’m very seldom good,
I’ll——”
She broke off and glanced over at him, making her mouth sad. “You do sit far away.” When he made no motion to accept her invitation, she smiled the unreserved smile of friendship. “Look here, if I come half way over, will you?”
She made the journey and waited for him to follow her example. He came reluctantly, but not all the way; there was still a gap between them.