“That’s very nice,” said Leonore.
“And I like the way you say ‘dear,’” said Peter. “Don’t you want to say it again?”
“No, I hate people who say the same thing twice.”
Then there was a long pause.
“What poor things words are?” said Peter, at the end of it.
“I know just what you mean,” said Leonore.
Clearly they both meant what they said, for there came another absence of words. How long the absence would have continued is a debatable point. Much too soon a door opened.
“Hello!” said a voice. “Back already? What kind of an evening had you?”
“A very pleasant one,” said Peter, calmly, yet expressively.
“Let go my hand, Peter, please,” a voice whispered imploringly. “Oh, please! I can’t to-night. Oh, please!”