“I’m sorry. But I love you––I need you so that I’m fit for nothing else. I can’t keep my mind on my work; I can’t think of anybody––anything but you.... If you didn’t care for me more or less I wouldn’t come whining to you. I wouldn’t come now until I’d entirely won your heart––except that––if I did––and if you refused me marriage and offered the other thing––I’d be about through with everything! And I’d know damned well that the nation wasn’t worth the powder to blow it to hell if such women as you betray it!”
The girl flushed furiously; but her voice seemed fairly under control.
“Hadn’t you better go, Jim, before you say anything more?”
“Will you marry me?”
“No.”
He stood up very straight, unstirring, for a long time, not looking at her.
Then he said “good-bye,” in a low voice, and went out leaving her quite pale again and rather badly scared.
As the lower door closed, she sprang to the landing and called his name in a frightened voice that had no carrying power.
Later she telephoned to his several clubs. At eleven she called each club again; and finally telephoned to his house.