"Your voice sounds hard as iron. Why not?"
"I don't think it's wise."
She affected not to understand him. "They'll all be out. Cissie told me so."
"We said our good-byes last night. I don't think I could stand it again."
A long silence followed.
"I wish I'd never teased you," said the girl. "I wish there was nothing between us that I had to be sorry for—things that I've done to hurt you, I mean."
"They are nothing, compared to the sweetness and magic of it," he said. "Don't let yourself think of what doesn't matter."
"Yes; that's like you." She went on with down-drawn brows and face darkened in thought: "Whatever happens don't ever think that this hasn't been the best thing I've ever known in my life. When I've been crazy over men before I've never had a thought for anyone but myself.... I wish there was something, anything that I could do for you, dear," she concluded with passionate wistfulness.
"There is. Be yourself; the real self that you are now."
"I'll try. Oh, I will try! But it's so hard with you gone."