Her tears distressed him. He urged her to forget his presumption. She had been so good to him that he had spoken in spite of himself.
Pauline found she could not let him deceive himself. If she let him go now, perhaps he might never come back.
"You goose!"
Though the words came smothered through her handkerchief, he gained incredible comfort from them.
"Polly!" he cried.
"Don't you say a word, Jack," she ordered. "Let me do the talking."
"If you'll tell me that—that—you care anything for—for—"
"—For a big stupid who is too modest ever to think enough of himself," she completed. "Well, I do. I care a great deal for him."
"You don't mean—"
"I do, too. That's just what I mean. No, you keep back there till I'm through, Jack. I want to find out if you love me as much as I do you."