Taken properly,
I'm the meekest fellow in creation. But we must have things on a sensible
footing. You see that, don't you?"
"If we could be just friends," she said.
"Well, I'm quite willing to be friends." He laughed into her eyes. "Why
so distressful? Don't you like the prospect?"
She drew his hand down into her lap and held it between her own, looking
gravely down at it. "Dick!" she said.
His smile passed. "Well, dear? What is it? You're not going to be
afraid of me?"
She did not answer him. "I want you to leave me free a little
longer," she said.
"But you are not free now," he said.
She threw him a brief, half-startled glance. "I don't mean that," she
said rather haltingly. "I mean I want you--not to ask any promise of
me--not to insist upon any bond between us--not to--not to--expect a
formal engagement--until,--well, until--"
"Until you are ready to marry me," he suggested quietly.
A quick tremor went through her. "That won't be for a long time," she
said.
"How long?" he said.
"I don't know. Dick. I haven't the least idea. I had almost made up my
mind never to marry at all."
"Really?" he said. "Do you know, so had I.
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