"Because if—if she says 'Yes' she'll cease to take any further interest in me. I've grown selfish, and I should so like to have her all to myself for the first evening."
"Very well," he agreed somewhat grudgingly.
"You see, after waiting for eight years one day——"
"Will seem longer than the whole lot put together," he said despondently.
"Well, come late to-morrow night, after supper."
"No, I'll try to hold out." He smiled a little. "If she—well, if she refuses me, I shall have had all the longer blissful looking forward to meeting her again. And if she should say 'No' it will serve me right."
"I somehow don't think she'll refuse you, though, as you say, it would certainly serve you right."
"Yes, I know it would." In his eyes lay an anxious, almost wistful look, which touched me. His rugged face had softened to a semblance of youth, his voice was less gruff.
"Women don't forget easily. If she ever cared for you——" I began.
Dimbie was returning.