It was a new note in their relationship. The senatorial quality vanished in an instant. She recognized in him something that she had not felt before. He seemed younger, too. She was a woman to him, and he was playing the part of a lover. She hesitated, but not knowing just what to do, did nothing at all.
“Well,” he said, “did I frighten you?”
She looked at him, but moved by her underlying respect for this great man, she said, with a smile, “Yes, you did.”
“I did it because I like you so much.”
She meditated upon this a moment, and then said, “I think I’d better be going.”
“Now then,” he pleaded, “are you going to run away because of that?”
“No,” she said, moved by a curious feeling of ingratitude; “but I ought to be going. They’ll be wondering where I am.”
“You’re sure you’re not angry about it?”
“No,” she replied, and with more of a womanly air than she had ever shown before. It was a novel experience to be in so authoritative a position. It was so remarkable that it was somewhat confusing to both of them.
“You’re my girl, anyhow,” the Senator said, rising. “I’m going to take care of you in the future.”