With an effort Joel roused himself.
"Another has expressed my sentiments, Miss Fitzgerald.
"Verse sweetens toil, however rude the sound.'"
"Then if you'd like, I'll read you a little so's to help pass the time." Susan seated herself near the window, cleared her throat and opening the volume at random, began in the self-conscious and unnatural voice characterizing ninety-nine people out of every hundred who attempt the reading of verse.
"'O there's a heart for every one
If every one could find it.
Then up and seek, ere youth is gone,
Whate'er the task, ne'er mind it.
For if you chance to meet at last
With that one heart intended—'"
Susan's voice had grown husky. She cleared her throat again. "I'm afraid I made a poor selection," she apologized. "You see I'm not as familiar with po'try as you are, Mr. Dale." She turned the leaves in a confusion that increased as her groping vision stumbled continually on lines startlingly sentimental.
"'Let thy love in kisses rain
On my cheeks and eye-lids pale.'"
Susan opened ten pages ahead and tried again.
"'When stars are in the quiet skies,
Then most I pine for thee.
Bend on me, then, thy tender eyes,
As stars look on the sea.'"
Joel's change of position was subtly suggestive of weariness. Susan whirled the leaves and took a desperate plunge.