Page:Willa Cather - The Song of the Lark.djvu/435

 abstraction. "Even I can say to-night, Archie," he brought out slowly,

Now, doctor, you may leave me. I 'm beautifully drunk, but not with anything that ever grew in France."

The doctor rose. Fred tossed his flower out of the window behind him and came toward the door. "I say," he called, "have you a date with anybody?"

The doctor paused, his hand on the knob. "With Thea, you mean? Yes. I 'm to go to her at four this afternoon—if you have n't paralyzed me."

"Well, you won't eat me, will you, if I break in and send up my card? She 'll probably turn me down cold, but that won't hurt my feelings. If she ducks me, you tell her for me, that to spite me now she 'd have to cut off more than she can spare. Good-night, Archie."