Jenny clutched at the saving word. "You have been the best of partners," she acknowledged, straightforwardly.
"Oh, no! Not the best! I'm capable of being a heap better partner than I have been. Now stop crocheting, listen to me, and don't speak till I get through.... In the first place, do you like me?"
Jenny flared at this.
"Why do you ask a question like that? You know that nobody could help liking you! You know you're as sunshiny and thoughtful as you can be, and as for being interesting and funny and unlike anybody else in the world, you know well enough you're that; so why do you ask such foolish questions only to hear yourself praised?"
Rufus made a sudden movement and then subsided again into his chair.
"That's satisfactory, so far as it goes," he said calmly, "though it doesn't go far enough to suit me. There are things I've got to say to you, and when they're over, we need never speak of them again. I haven't any home, nor any people but a married brother in Kansas, whose wife and four children I've never seen. He always worked the farm and it fell to him, as was right. I got a little money from my father, earned more at my trade in Chicago and saved it. Then I went across with the other boys. You don't really know anything about me except what I tell you, but I've got a clean record to show the neighbors, and I swear to God there's nothing wrong with me except that I've got one arm instead of two. When I came down this road from the station three weeks ago I took a good look at you, skimming around with your crutch, and swinging your right foot off the ground."
"Don't!" cried Jenny, covering her eyes.
Rufus put his big hand over her little ones and wiped the tears away with her crochet work. "I've got to show how I feel about you, and then I'll ask what you think of me," he explained. "I said to myself that day: 'Here's a chance to help somebody that's had to bear what I have.' They told me at the station you needed some work done, so I just plunged in, made good, and got the job. But I had no idea of falling in love with you, Jenny; that's your fault, not mine. I want to marry you, but I don't know how you feel about it."
"I don't want to be pitied and married just to be helped," said Jenny stubbornly. "After my accident I just made up my mind I would never marry."
"Why?" asked Rufus.