Peter was blinking his eyes and fighting to breathe evenly. When he could speak he said as smoothly as possible: “Of course, Linda. I’ll do your proof for you and you may put all your time on class honours. It merely occurred to me to wonder whether you realized the full and ultimate significance of what we are saying; exactly what it means to me and to you.”
“Possibly not, Peter,” said Linda, smiling on him with utter confidence. “Everyone says I am my father’s daughter, and Father didn’t live to coach me on being your iris decoration, as a woman would; but, Peter, when the time comes, I have every confidence in your ability to teach me what you would like me to know yourself. Don’t you agree with me, Peter?”
Making an effort to control himself Peter gathered up the material Linda had brought and taking her arm he said casually: “I thoroughly agree with you, dear. You are sanely and healthfully and beautifully right. Now let’s go and take Katy into our confidence, and then you shall show me your ideas before I begin work on your proof. And after this, instead of you coming to me I shall always come to you whenever you can spare a minute for me.”
Linda nodded acquiescence.
“Of course! That would be best,” she said. “Peter, you are so satisfyingly satisfactory.”
THE END