"Because you are not an old college chum."
"I was not aware that you were so tremendously sincere."
"I'm not tremendously sincere—not tremendous in any grand sense of the word, but I've learned that I can be tremendously awkward in a false position. It is absurd of you to fancy that I can think of you in any other light than that of a beautiful woman, gifted with more than your share of intellect. I prefer that our friendship should rest on this obvious fact. We are too old 'to make believe,' as children say. I came to this conclusion within an hour after I wrote the letter."
"Oh, you dashed it off hastily, without giving it thought?"
"I've given you two thoughts to your one," he replied, laughing lightly.
"And none of them very complimentary, judging from the letter." And she impatiently tore it up.
"That's right. Put it out of existence."
"I almost wish I had kept it as documentary evidence against you," she remarked.
"Oh, come! Friends do not wish evidence against, but for each other. I could remain away scarcely a week."
"From business, yes."