'Your pardon, my friend,' she finally said, as if she just then remembered he was there.
'Do not speak of it; am I not your friend?'
'Ah me, I fear I am a dull friend!' she said with a faint smile. 'I certainly shall not bring much joy into your life. It would be better to lose me than to keep me, I assure you.'
'I like you as you are; I like you because you are as you are!' he declared passionately.
She remained silent for an instant as her eyes rested on a ray of light which penetrated the yellow lace curtain, played upon the carpet, and lit up the heap of red cushions all ready for a tired lady. A sudden thought crossed her mind, and she rose abruptly.
'I must go.'
'No, no, no!' he pleaded in despair, as if such a thing was quite out of the question.
'I must go,' she repeated seriously.
'Why?' he asked in childish manner.
'Because——' she answered, smiling at his ingenuous question.