"To Captain Charlesworth? How absurd! I suppose I've Ida to thank for that. I wouldn't have married him for anything."
"Is that so? What a game of cross-purposes life is! But that's why I didn't try to speak to you much."
"Did you want to? I thought you disliked me. And it hurt me so much. Do you know, I used to cry about it sometimes. I wanted you to be my friend."
He walked over to her settee.
"Noreen, dear, I wanted to be your friend and you to be mine," he said, looking down at her. "I liked you so much. At least, I thought I liked you."
"And—and don't you?" she asked, looking up at him.
He knelt beside her.
"No, little friend, I don't like you. Because I—" He paused.
"What?" she whispered faintly.
"I love you, dear. Do you think it absurd?"