"And you will explain it all to me when it is finished?" she asked.
His smile cast a light upon her.
"If you wish it," he answered, "but I had no idea that you cared for such things."
"You did not know me," she responded, reproachfully. "I am very, very ignorant, but I want so much to learn." Then her voice regained its brightness. "And you have read all these books?" she questioned.
He followed with his eyes her swift gestures.
"Those," he answered, pointing to the north shelves, "I have skimmed. Those behind you, I have read; and those," he nodded towards his right, "I know word for word."
"And what do you do?" The delicacy of her manner imbued the question with unconscious flattery.
"I—oh, I eke out an existence with the assistance of the Bodley College."
"What have you to do with it? Oh, I beg your pardon! I had forgotten we were almost strangers."
He answered, naturally.