She smiled rather nervously. "If I agree now," she answered, "it will look as if—" she paused; the thing was difficult to put in its nicety. But he was quick in the uptake.
"It won't," he said. "I 'm not such a bounder as that."
"But I 'd rather be here than take my chance among other people," she went on. "I suppose I can stand Mrs. Jakes if I give my mind to it, particularly if you 'll see me through."
"I 'll do what I can," he promised. "You 'll do it, then? You'll stay?"
"I suppose so," said Margaret. His hand for a moment was heavier on her shoulder; she felt as though she had been slapped on the back, with the unceremoniousness of a good friend; and then he loosed her.
"Good of you," he answered shortly.
Both were weighted by the handicap of their race; they had been, as it were, trapped into a certain depth of emotion and self-revelation, and both found a difficulty in stepping down again to the safe levels of commonplace intercourse. Ford shoved both hands into his pockets and half-turned from her.
"Well—doing anything this afternoon?" he inquired in his tersest manner.
"Yes," said Margaret, whom the position could amuse.
"What?"