“Probably I’ve got too much on my mind—the hurry of going so soon. That reminds me. I must say good-by. I’ve got such a lot to do.”
Her face did not change, but her heart began to flutter wildly.
“You and your father are friends,” proceeded he, his inward state showing only in the fact that he was absurdly repeating himself. “What I came to do is done. So I’ll go—as that was my only reason for bothering you.”
She gazed mockingly at him, shaking her head. “Oh, no—Chang. That wasn’t why you came.”
“I assure you it was. My only reason.”
“You big, foolish Chang!” mocked she. “You don’t know your own mind. Now, do sit down. That’s better. Now—there you are, jumping up again. What is the matter?”
“I must be going.”
“Is it really true that big men are more stupid?... No, that wasn’t why you came. You came because——”
“Now, Rix,” cried he angrily—for her eyes plainly foretold what was coming. “That joke has gone far enough—too far—much too far.”
“What joke?”