"Why? I 'm not tired."
"But I want to be near you. I 've done nothing all the evening but envy the men who could get about and do things for you."
"You 'll soon be walking off at your usual breakneck pace," said Shirley, the colour coming back with a rush into cheeks which had been pale since Olive went.
"To the office--yes--your office. I can hardly wait. But I wonder sometimes if I can keep my wits and do my work there."
"Why not?"
"Don't you know why?"
Shirley's little moist ball of a handkerchief was all at once being clutched very tight in her fingers. She shook her head.
"I think you do. I think you must know why I 'm half out of my head with the prospect of being manager of the new house of Townsend & Son."
"I 'm glad that you like the prospect," said Shirley, in the lowest of voices, and looking anywhere but at Peter.
"Are you? Do you like it?"