“Listen, Margy,” he urged, “mother likes you. She says you are the most sensible and wholesome girl she has ever met. Only last night she told me that I needed a girl like you to wake me up and keep me straight. I know she will be glad if you will have me—honest, she will!”
In a moment Margaret—the strong, big, wholesome Margaret—forgot all her doubts, forgot her oft-repeated vows to celibacy, forgot everything except that she was lonely and still young, that Howard was the kindest of men, and that it would be pleasant to take care of him, to make a good husband and a successful man out of this spoiled boy. She looked at his face and noticed that his hair had become disordered in his excitement and felt an irrepressible desire to brush it straight. She hesitated what to say—began to temporize with herself—and ended where all end who hesitate—by being lost.
“Do you really care for me so much?” she murmured. “I never, never thought you did.” Howard made an impulsive movement towards her.
“Please, remember, we are in a public place. Don’t lean over and look at me like that. Please, sit up straight and let us be calm.”
“Then, tell me, Margy, that you care for me. Tell me that you love me.”
Margaret admitted that she was very fond of him—and immediately felt very happy.
He made another movement to get nearer to her. “Please, please, remember where we are!” And to her own surprise she burst into tears.
Quickly drying her eyes, she whispered: “Do you really love me, dear?”
This time Howard disregarded all injunctions. Leaning over the table he almost sent the solitary sugar bowl between them sliding to the carpeted floor, and whispered in her ear: “Shall we go, dearest?” The question sounded ridiculously inane, but it had a very practical import.
Proudly and with a new-born sense of protection, he assisted her with her coat and walked with her to the door. To the boy who handed him his hat and cane he gave all the change his large fist could grab. Flushed with victory and anticipatory happiness, he followed the tall, striking figure of the girl into the street.