"No, I'm not staying in the neighborhood. When I left you, I
made up my mind I'd wait at New Madrid until I could come on down
here and say I was sorry."
"And it's taken you all this time?"
Carrington regarded her seriously.
"I reckon I must have come for more time, Betty--Miss Malroy."
In spite of herself, Betty glowed under the caressing humor of
his tone.
"Really--you must have chosen poorly then when you selected New
Madrid. It couldn't have been a good place for your purpose."
"I think if I could have made up my mind to stay there long
enough, it would have answered," said Carrington. "But when a
down-river boat tied up 'there yesterday it was more than I could
stand. You 'see there's danger in a town like New Madrid of
getting too sorry. I thought we'd better discuss this point--"
"Mayn't I show you Belle Plain?" asked Betty quickly.
But Carrington shook his head.
"I don't care anything about that," he said. "I didn't come here
to see Belle Plain."
"You certainly are candid," said Betty.
"I intend to be honest with you always."
"Dear me--but I don't know that I shall particularly like it. Do
you think it was quite fair to select the boat you did, or was
your resolution to be always honest formed later?" demanded Betty
severely.
He looked at her with great sweetness of expression.
"I didn't advise that boat for speed, only for safety. Betty,
doesn't it mean anything to you that I love you? I admit that I
wish it had been twice as slow!" he added reflectively, as an
afterthought.
Pages:
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172