“Yes, I did.”
“Why, may I ask?”
“For the same reason that I refuse to write to you—no, that is not quite true—” she added, “but it is because I don’t want to write to either of you.”
“Have all these years given me the right to ask you a question?”
He still held both hands.
She answered seriously, “Yes. You are all the big brother I have.”
“Then I will not ask it,” dropping her hands and turning away.
“Say good-by, then.”
“Good-by.”
“I have not said any thing to displease you, have I?”