"Sure and I'm not afraid of you, alanah," she said, sedate again and very cool, "or of any man," and then, mischievously, "But your doubts needn't have kept you from kissing me a good morning."
"It's not too late now," said Horton, abruptly rising and spilling his coffee. He passed the small table toward her but she held him off with a hand.
"No. The essence is gone. You'll please pick up your coffee-cup and pass the butter. Thanks. It's very nice butter, isn't it?"
"Excellent," he said gloomily.
"And now you're vexed. Is there no pleasing a man?"
"If you'd only stop pleasing—you'd make it easier for me to see a way——"
She was all attention at once, listening. But he paused and set his coffee-cup down with an air of finality.
"Stop pleasing! Sure and you must not ask the impossible," she said, her mouth full.
But he wouldn't smile and only glowered into the fire. "I want you to let me try to pay you what I owe you—to earn your respect and affection——"
"Well, I'm letting you," she smiled over her coffee-cup.