When I grasped what he meant, I was staggered.
"I'm sorry," I explained, as gently as I could. "I'm—I'm going to marry Doctor Barnes one of these days."
He stared at me. Then he laughed a little and went toward the door.
"Barnes!" he said, turning. "Another redhead, by gad! Well, I'll tell you this, young woman, you're red, but he's redder. Your days for running things to suit yourself are over."
"I'm glad of it," I retorted. "I want to be managed myself for a change. Somebody," I said, "who won't be always thinking how he feels, unless it's how he feels toward me."
"Bah! He'll bully you."
"'It's human nature to like to be bullied,'" I quoted. "And I guess I'm not afraid. He's healthy and a healthy man's never a crank."
"A case of yours for health, eh?" he said, and held out his hand.
THE END