"Fred!" exclaimed she indignantly. "Do you think I could do such a thing?"
"She'd easily get another job as good. Tetlow can find her one. Does that satisfy you?"
"No," she confessed. "It makes me feel meaner than ever."
"Now, Jo, let's drop this foolish seriousness about nothing at all. Let's drop it for good."
"Nothing at all—that's exactly it. I can't understand, Fred. What is there about her that makes her haunt me? That makes me afraid she'll haunt you?"
Norman felt a sudden thrill. He tightened his hold upon her hands because his impulse had been to release them. "How absurd!" he said, rather noisily.
"Isn't it, though?" echoed she. "Think of you and me almost quarreling about such a trivial person." Her laugh died away. She shivered, cried, "Fred, I'm superstitious about her. I'm—I'm—afraid!" And she flung herself wildly into his arms.
"She is somewhat uncanny," said he, with a lightness he was far from feeling. "But, dear—it isn't complimentary to me, is it?"
"Forgive me, dearest—I don't mean that. I couldn't mean that. But—I love you so. Ever since I began to love you I've been looking round for something to be afraid of. And this is the first chance you've given me."
"I've given you!" mocked he.