He realized, however, that he had invited her to meet him, and that in common decency he must not let her see how he felt; so he smiled as politely as he could.
“Didn’t recognize you at first,” he said. “I’m sorry!”
That was all he could manage for the moment. She, too, was silent, with a set, strained smile on her lips.
“We can’t stand here like this,” he thought. “I’ve asked her to dinner!”
But he was not going to take this girl to the quiet little restaurant with candles on the table. That had been for the other girl—the grave, aloof, and beautiful one, who didn’t exist.
“Come on!” he said briefly. “We’ll get a taxi.”
She followed him without a word, and he helped her into a cab.
“Where would you like to go?” he asked.
“Oh, I don’t care,” she answered.
Very well—if she didn’t care, neither would he. He gave the driver an address and got in beside her.