VB flushed, then laughed, with an abrupt change of mood.
"Well, it began that way," he pleaded weakly.
"And you'd let it end that way."
"Oh, no; you don't understand, Miss Thorpe," serious again. "I—I can't explain, and you don't understand now. But I've felt somehow as though it would be presuming too much if I came to see you."
She looked at him calculatingly a long moment as he twirled his hat and kicked at a pebble with his boot.
"I think it would be presuming too much if you let me do all the traveling, since you admit that a friendship does exist," she said lightly.
"Then the only gallant thing for me to do is to call on you."
"I think so. I'm glad you recognize the fact."
"When shall it be?"
"Any time. If I'm not home, stay until I get back. Daddy likes you. You'll love my mother."