"I was so hungry," she said, waving him to the seat opposite, "and I couldn't face the crowd downstairs. They paw one so! So I had it brought up here, and sent for you to keep me company."
"You make pretty free in the house," thought Jack.
"I live here," she said, as if she had read his thought. "Mrs. Cleaver is my cousin. Do you mind my sending for you?" she said meltingly.
"Mind!" said Jack. "I most certainly do! I shall return at once." And he sat down.
She laughed. "I like you, you're so unexpected. A little while ago you piqued my curiosity so, I couldn't rest without seeing you again." This was said with the wide-eyed seeming simplicity that was her trump suit. "You so plainly did not like me! And most people do!" This with an adorable, deprecating shrug.
"I did like you!" Jack protested with an inscrutable face. "I liked you so much, I felt I had to be very, very careful!"
"Don't be careful!" she murmured, turning on the full fire of those terrible eyes. "I despise careful men!"
Jack kept a prudent hold on himself. "I have no choice," he said calmly. "How long would I hold my job if I was not—well, careful?"
"You're afraid!" she said with provoking scorn.
He shrugged.