"Of course not." But instead he merely took her slender hands between his own, which were not very steady, and looked her straight in the eyes. Such men can do it, somehow. Besides, he really meant to control himself and cast anchor in a moment or two.
"Will you trust me with your friendship?" he said.
"I—seem to be doing it. I don't exactly understand what I am doing. Would you answer me one question?"
"If I can, Jacqueline."
"Then, friendship is possible between a man and a woman, isn't it?" she insisted wistfully.
"I don't know."
"What! Why don't you know? It's merely a matter of mutual interest and respect, isn't it?"
"I've heard so."
"Then isn't a friendship between us possible without anything threatening to spoil it? Isn't it to be just a matter of enjoying together what interests each? Isn't it? Because I don't mind waiving social conditions that can't be helped, and conventions that we simply can't observe."
"Yes, you wonderful girl," he said under his breath, meaning to anchor at once. But he drifted on.