Bronson looked at Virginia quizzically.
"Trust me?" she asked.
He smiled. "I think so," he said.
"You can," she said.
Bronson's smile faded. "Look, kiddo," he said, "there's one thing about being just a little bit selfish that most of the books never get around to mentioning. I'd prefer to have someone working beside me who is a bit selfish and inclined to think of himself first.
"The guy who has—in capitals—a Mission In Life is all too inclined to toss common sense into the ashcan so that his flanged-up ideals are realized. At least you can predict the future course of any character who is logical enough to think of himself.
"So—you've made your gesture and until someone convinces me that a bit of selfishness is absolutely wrong—g'wan!" He grinned. "Go to work so that I can stop sounding like a philosopher."
Virginia looked at him soberly for some moments.
"You don't question the fact that I will grab for the winner?"
"We all hope to play a winner, ginger-girl," he said.