“Why not? Hasn’t everything been running smooth the last few days? Haven’t we been good chummy comrades? Of course you’ve got the worst of the deal. I know I’m not much on fancy talk; but I like to hear it when I’ve a chance. I’ve led a lonesome sort of life since they did for my sisters– No; I’m not going to rake that up again. I’m only trying to give you an idea what it means to a fellow to be with a lady like you. May be it isn’t polite to tell you all this, but it’s just what I feel, and I never did amount to shucks as a liar.”
“I believe I understand you, Mr. Blake, and I really feel highly complimented.”
“No, you don’t, any such thing, Miss Jenny. Own up, now! If I met you to-morrow on your papa’s doorstep, you’d cut me cold.”
“I should if you continued to be so rude. Have you no regard for my feelings? But here we are, talking nonsense, when we should be going–”
“Is it nonsense?” he broke in. “What does life mean, anyway? Here we can be true friends and comrades,–real, free living people. It can’t be that you want to go back to all those society shams, after you’ve seen real life! As for me, what have I to gain by going back to the everlasting grind? I don’t mind work; but when a man has nothing ahead to work for but a bank account, when it’s grind, grind, grind till your head goes stale and all the world looks black, then there’s no choice but throw up your job and go on a drunk, if you want to keep from a gun accident. Maybe you don’t understand it. But that’s what I’ve had to go through, time and again. Do you wonder I like to fancy an everlasting picnic here, with a little partner who wouldn’t let me come within shouting distance of her in the land of lavender–trousers and peek-a-boos?”
“Mr. Blake, really you are most unjust! I could not be so–so ungrateful, after all your kindness. I–we should certainly be glad to number you among our friends.”
“Drink and all, eh?”
“A man of your will-power has no need whatever to give way to such a habit.”
“Course not, if he’s got anything in sight worth while. Guess, though, my folks must have been poor white trash. I never could go after money just for the fun of the game. No family, no friends, no–what-you -call-it?–culture– What’s the use? I have a fair head for figures; but all the mathematics that I know I’ve had to catch hot off the bat. It’s true I grubbed my C. E. out of a correspondence school; but a fellow has to have an all-round, crack-up education to put him where it’s worth while.”
“You still have time to work up. You are not much over thirty.”