"What?" he said. "Are you going to let me have the next?"
"I had thought of it. If you really do——"
"Have you had any other offers?"
"Yes; several. But——"
"You must remember mine is only a new venture. And you may do better——"
It was odd, but a curious uncertainty, a modesty had come upon him since she last met him. He had been then so absurd, so arrogant about his magazine.
"I don't want to do better."
"Of course, if it's only a question of terms——"
It was incredible, Brodrick's depreciating himself to a mere question of terms. She flushed at this dreadful thought.
"It isn't," she said. "Oh! I didn't mean that."