"Oh, you've said all that before!"
"Seminoles—"
"And that too. What else is there? Did the young man in the sun-helmet tell you of something worse?"
"Yes—much worse! Something so dreadfully horrible that—"
"What?"
"I am not at liberty to tell you, Miss Barrison," I said, striving to appear shocked.
"It would not make any difference anyway," she observed, calmly. "I'm not afraid of anything in the world."
"Yes, you are!" I said. "Listen to me; I'd be awfully glad to have you go—I—I really had no idea how I'd miss you—miss such pleasant companionship. But it is not possible—" The recollection of Professor Farrago's aversion suddenly returned. "No, no," I said, "it can't be done. I'm most unhappy over this mistake of mine; please don't look as though you were ready to cry!"
"Don't discharge me, Mr. Gilland," she said.
"I'm a brute to do it, but I must; I was a bigger brute to engage you, but I did. Don't—please don't look at me that way, Miss Barrison! As a matter of fact, I'm tender-hearted and I can't endure it."