[Footnote A: Midsummer comes at the time of the summer solstice, about June 21st, but Midsummer Day, the Feast of St. John the Baptist, is the 24th of June.]
He stared at her. "If you put it that way," he began stiffly, "you certainly need not—"
"But I didn't put it that way. I said I wished that you need not see me. That is quite different from wishing I need not see you. I don't mind seeing you in the least—"
"That's good of you!"
"Don't be angry. I'm going to be quite frank with you—"
"I'm prepared for that. I can't remember that you've ever been anything else."
"Please listen to me, Mr. Kendrick. When I say that I wish you would not see me—"
"You said 'need not.'"
"I shall have to put it 'would not' to make you understand. When I say I wish you would not see me until Midsummer I am saying the very kindest thing I can. Just now you are under the impression—hallucination—that you want to see much of me. To prove that you are mistaken I'm going to ask this of you—not to have anything whatever to do with me until at least Midsummer. If you carry out my wish you will find out for yourself what I mean—and will thank me for my wisdom."
"It's a wish, is it? It sounds to me more like a decree."