“I suppose people who have been accustomed to luxuries all their lives don’t think of it at all; but others—” She was silent.
“Yes,” said Roberts again, “I think I understand. It’s the one compensation for being hungry a long time, I suppose; the added enjoyment of the delayed meal when at last it is served. At least that’s what those who never went hungry say. I hope you’ll get a lot of pleasure out of the machine this Summer.”
The girl looked at him quickly.
“I? Are you going away again?”
“Yes. I start West to-morrow. Things are moving faster than I expected.”
“And you won’t take the car with you?”
“No, I shan’t play again for a time. I always had a theory that a man should know a business he conducts, not take some one else’s word for it. I’m going to put on my corduroys and live with that mine until it grows up. I don’t even know how long that will be. In a way to-night is good-bye.”
The girl said nothing this time.
“I meant what I said, though, in regard to the car,” returned Roberts. “I shall be disappointed if you don’t use it a lot. I’ve always felt as though it sort of belonged to us together, 287 we’ve had such a lot of pleasure out of it in common. They tell me at the garage that while I was away last time it wasn’t out at all. Didn’t Steve deliver my message?”
“Yes.”