Rose turned scarlet.
“You’re mistaken, Mr. Morgan!” she[Pg 390] declared, with a cold little smile. “You’re very much mistaken!”
“No,” he said. “No, I’m not. I knew, the first moment I saw you—”
“We won’t discuss the matter, if you please.”
“I’m not discussing anything,” said he, with a sort of gentleness. “I’m only telling you that you’ve got me to count on whenever you need me.”
Her hands clenched, but she answered quietly enough:
“I can’t imagine any possibility of ‘needing’ you, Mr. Morgan.”
He turned toward the door.
“I don’t mean to make a nuisance of myself,” he declared, gravely. And then he smiled. “I’m going away,” he added. “But I’m coming back!”
The screen door banged after him, and Rose sat down on the couch and began to cry.