Doesn't that sound wretched? I'm
terribly slow at learning the mother's-help rules, but I'm positive of
this rule--mothers' helps may not shoot out of cabs and leave the
mother; it's such little help--you must see that?"
"But you will be less help still if you stay here for ever with your
hurt ankle--you must see that? I must stay with you or see you to your
home."
When she answered, it was upon another change of mood. The soft, dark
wings were fluttering again; and it was the banter of George's tone
that had recalled them. For this was an adventure--and she had not
known adventure for years; for these were flippant exchanges arising
out of gay young hearts, and they recalled memories of days when such
harmless bantering was of her normal life; for there had been sympathy
in George's stammering inquiries, and it recalled the time when she
lived amidst sympathy and amidst love.
The soft, dark wings fluttered again: "I am very grateful to you for
helping me," she told him. "You must not think me ungrateful; only, I
think you had better go. In my position I am not free to--to do as I
like, talk where I will. You understand?" Her voice trembled a little,
and she repeated: "You understand?"
George said, "I understand."
II.
And that was all that passed upon this meeting.
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