BUSINESS
"This," replied Barbara, "has been a bright day for our whole town." And then, more pensively, "They say you could have made it brighter."
Whereat the young man lowered his voice. "Miss Garnet, I had hoped I could."
"And I had hoped you would."
"Miss Garnet, honestly, I'm glad I did not know it at the meeting. It was hard enough to disappoint Mr. March; but to know that I was failing to meet a hope of yours—"
Presently he added:
"Your hope implied a certain belief in me. Have I diminished that?"
"Why-y, no-o, Mr. Fair, you've rather aug-men-ted it."
He brightened almost playfully. "Miss Garnet, you give me more pleasure than I can quietly confess."
"Why, I didn't intend to do that."