The next morning Zebedee appeared, and in the hall of their many greetings, she slipped her hand into his.
"What have you been doing, Zebedee?"
"Working."
"Is that all?"
He laughed, and asked, "Isn't that enough?"
"No; not enough to keep you from me. I thought you would come yesterday and the day before."
He looked at her with an astonishment that was near scorn, for she had driven him from her and now reproached him when he did not run back. She put her hand on his and looked at him with shadowless grey eyes, and showed him a mouth that tempted, as she had done before she married this other man to whom she was determined to be faithful. His thoughts were momentarily bitter, but his words were gentle.
"I told you I wanted time to think." He pressed her hand and gave it back to her. "And I have thought, and, since you are what you are, I see, at present, no other way but yours."
"Oh." She was daunted by his formality.
"Shall I go up to Mrs. Caniper?"