Abruptly, Miss Willis grew angry with herself, and stopped. When angry she was collected.
Dr. Carter’s face lit up humorously. 409
“You have no idea,” he said, “how you have relieved my mind.”
The girl looked a question.
“I supposed I was the embarrassed individual,” he laughed.
“If you had only given me a hint,” suggested the girl, reproachfully. She was now amazed that she had ever lost her grip upon herself, and wondered why she had.
“A hint!” he exclaimed. “I was dumb; I thought you’d see.”
The tension was off, and they laughed together. From then on, both remained natural. In the midst of a lull, Dr. Carter suddenly said:
“You’ll think me a barbarian, Miss Willis, but I have a request to make. I am in the mood to-night to be unconventional”––the corners of his serious mouth lifted humorously––“to be what I really am,” he illuminated, “and to meet you in the same spirit.” He paused with a little shrug. “It is a disappointing reversion to the primitive, I must admit.” He glanced up whimsically. “May I ask you a question––any question?”
“Do you think it possible,” the girl evaded, 410 “for a modern woman to meet you––the way you say––naturally?”