"Perhaps I do," she acquiesced. "And that means that I'm being utterly selfish, I suppose; but I need your friendship—can I have it?"
"Oh, I suppose so," he said with some bitterness. "But you won't really need it, you know, for you never mean to break away."
She flushed. "Don't say it!" she exclaimed. "I forbid you to say it!"
"Well," he told her, "if you mean to, it's time you began to get a move on. If you won't take me, then for God's sake take something, anything, only don't let Seabourne take you."
3
On the way home Joan told Elizabeth. They stopped and faced each other in the road.
"And you said——?" Elizabeth asked.
"I said 'No,'" replied Joan. "What did you think I'd say?"
"No!" said Elizabeth, and she smiled. Then, "I wonder if you'll be surprised to hear that I had a proposal too, last week?"
Joan opened her lips but did not speak. Elizabeth watched her.