"Very?"
"As miserable," said Jim, "as a man could be."
"Oh," said Dora, "I'm so sorry! I suppose I ought to be angry with you, but I don't see how I can be when you--you like me so much."
Jim looked up at the sky with a mist in his eyes. They walked on, and all too soon came round to No. 9 again.
"Oh, if you please, give me my net," said Dora, for all this time her purchases had been dangling from Jim's left hand. She had forgotten all about them, and Jim had been quite unconscious of his burden.
"Then," said Jim, as they stopped in the shadow thrown by the porch, "you forgive me?"
"Yes, yes, entirely--on condition you never say anything like that again. And now give me my net."
"Here is the net," said Jim, "and here," as he kissed her, "is something else."
"Oh, how dare you!" cried Dora, snatching at her net and running up the steps with cheeks of scarlet.
As for Jim, he diplomatically continued his walk round the crescent.