Bertha was exhausted, and, keeping silence, pressed Edward’s hand in acknowledgment of his kind intention. Presently he looked at his watch again.
“Your half-hour’s nearly up. In five minutes I’m going to carry you to your room.”
“Oh no, you’re not,” she replied playfully, taking his remark as humorous. “I’m going to stay till dinner.”
“No, you can’t possibly. It will be very bad for you.... To please me go back to bed now.”
“Well, we’ll split the difference and I’ll go after tea.”
“No, you must go now.”
“Why, one would think you wanted to get rid of me!”
“I have to go out,” said Edward.
“Oh no, you haven’t—you’re merely saying that to induce me to go upstairs. You fibber!”
“Let me carry you up now, there’s a good girl.”