"I’m sorry you’re going!" she said, with a break in her voice.
"I know you are; but don’t be sentimental about it. I couldn’t stand that. Be cheerful!"
"I’m not sentimental," she said, forcing her voice to be steady. "Only—I think a lot of you. Every one’ll miss you."
"No!" replied Eddie. "No one will miss me, except perhaps you. No one else at all, Angelica."
They were spinning along dark country roads now, and he could not see her stealthy tears. She was thinking—wasn’t she perhaps a fool to let him go?
"Oh, I am sorry!" she said again. "I wish I could have——”
"I know!" he said. "You can’t help it. I—don’t blame you. I’m not lovable."
"You are!"
"No, I’m not. There’s nothing about me that a girl like you could fall in love with. I know that with women that’s the chief thing—love; but men are made of coarser stuff. Even if you didn’t love me, Angelica, I—I wish you would marry me. I’m not boasting, but I could do a great deal for you. If you could only hear how other men speak of me! I’m doing bigger things in business—all the time. I—I know I seem like a fool. Maybe I am, at home; but I’m not a fool in finance. I’ll be one of the richest men in the country some day, Angelica."
"I never thought you were a fool. Indeed, I think you’re wonderful. I think you’re—I’m sure you’ll do whatever you set out to do."