Page:Barbour--Peggy in the rain.djvu/33

 "You are trying to say," she laughed as he faltered, "that I am old enough to take care of myself? I am. I'm twenty-three, and I've been taking care of myself for five years."

"Then"

"Oh, but wait, please! Suppose I unreasonably forget that it was just friendship? You know you're not at all bad looking, Mr. Ames; and you don't seem a bit more conceited than the average man; and you can be very sweet and nice. So, as I say, suppose I fell in love with you?"

His face flushed. "I wish to God you would!" he said hoarsely.

"And if I did?" she asked ironically. "Why—" The pause was short enough, but it was there—"why, if you did, I suppose we'd do the usual thing."

"Which is?" she pursued mercilessly.

"Be married." He laughed bitterly. "Your opinion of me is certainly flattering."

She paid no heed to that. "Be married," she mused. "You and I; the millionaire and the work girl! It would make a good story for the papers, at least, wouldn't it?"

"Damn the papers!" he said savagely. "I