Page:Barbour--Peggy in the rain.djvu/261

 lady could buy things to wear, and presently Peggy took the bill that Gordon gave her and shopped in a little cheap store with a sizzling purple arc light over the entrance, and presently returned with a brown paper package. He took her in his arms again and they went on to the hotel. They reached it very soon.

"I'll go in with you, dear," he said, "and explain about the fire. And in the morning I'll come for you and we'll go back to the house for your things, for I don't think the fire has done much damage."

"There aren't many things I want," she murmured.

"Good-night, dearest. Do you know that you haven't told me yet that you love me, Peggy?"

"I think—I've been telling you all the time," she whispered.

"I know, but I want to hear you say it, sweetheart. You do?"

"I do," she answered solemnly.

The clerk was sympathetic as he turned the register around with one hand and thumped the office bell with the other.