"Because I like it. I want it. Why shouldn't I?"
"I will do you something better worth having than that," he said.
"Something I shouldn't like half so well," she returned. "No, I'm going to keep this, in memory of a perfect afternoon and some of the happiest days of my life."
Rivington gave in, still smiling.
"I'm going back to town to-morrow," he said.
"Oh, are you?" Actual dismay sounded in her voice. "Why?"
"I'm afraid I must," he said. "I'm sorry. Shall you be lonely?"
"Oh, no," she rejoined briskly. "Of course not. I wasn't lonely before you came." She added rather wistfully, "It was good of you to stay so long; I hope you haven't been very bored?"
"Not a bit," said Rivington. "I've only been afraid of boring you."
She laughed a little. A certain constraint seemed to have fallen upon her.