“Very well.”
“Look at me squarely. You're pretty and you're young. Some of them will try to take it out of you. That's human nature. Has anyone tried it yet?”
Sidney looked distressed.
“Positively, no. It's been hot, and of course it's troublesome to tell me everything. I—I think they're all very kind.”
He reached out a square, competent hand, and put it over hers.
“We miss you in the Street,” he said. “It's all sort of dead there since you left. Joe Drummond doesn't moon up and down any more, for one thing. What was wrong between you and Joe, Sidney?”
“I didn't want to marry him; that's all.”
“That's considerable. The boy's taking it hard.”
Then, seeing her face:—
“But you're right, of course. Don't marry anyone unless you can't live without him. That's been my motto, and here I am, still single.”