"Oh!" said Leah, carelessly. "I fancied you came to sympathise. Well"--she rose and extended her hand--"good-bye."
Askew clasped her hand coldly, wondering how he ever came to love so heartless a woman. As Jim was returning in glory and had not seen Señorita Fajardo since his reported death, Leah felt that she could safely dismiss this boy, to go where he would. Besides, she was beginning to find him a bore. He took things much too seriously, and was by no means so good-looking as she had imagined. All the same, after the manner of woman, who wants to have her pie and eat it, she by no means approved of his readiness to depart.
"You don't seem to care much," she said reproachfully, and felt quite ill-used.
Askew coloured boyishly. "I am not broken-hearted, certainly."
"I do not believe that you have a heart."
"You are right--it is at Rosario."
"Then I advise you to go after it, lest it should get mixed up with other men's hearts."
"Lola is no flirt," cried Askew, loyally.
"Then she must be altogether too good for this world. Good-bye! Bring Mrs. Askew to see me when you return."
"I fear you would be bored with her," said he, sore and sarcastic.