“No! I'm simply leaving the question open!”
“Yes,” said the girl—sadly, “you like to leave questions open. That's your way.”
“Well, I suppose I do till it's necessary to decide them. It saves the needless effusion of talk,” said Dan, with a laugh; and then, as people do in a quarrel, he went back to his angry mood, and said “Besides, I supposed you would be glad of the chance to make some sacrifice for me. You're always asking for it.”
“Thank you, Mr. Mavering,” said Alice, “for reminding me of it; nothing is sacred to you, it seems. I can't say that you have ever sought any opportunities of self-sacrifice.”
“I wasn't allowed time to do so; they were always presented.”
“Thank you again, Mr. Mavering. All this is quite a revelation. I'm glad to know how you really felt about things that you seemed so eager for.”
“Alice, you know that I would do anything for you!” cried Dan, rueing his precipitate words.
“Yes; that's what you've repeatedly told me. I used to believe it.”
“And I always believed what you said. You said at the picnic that day that you thought I would like to live at Ponkwasset Falls if my business was there—”
“That is not the point!”