“I’m sorry.”

She deliberated so long that her silence irritated him.

“If you don’t want me,” he said, “please say so.”

“I certainly don’t want you if you are likely to be ill-tempered, Jim.”

“I’m not ill-tempered.... I’ll tell you what’s the trouble if I may come. May I?”

“Is anything troubling you?”

“Of course.”

“I’m so sorry!”

“Am I to come?”

“Yes.”