she asked.

"Why, wasn't that exactly what I dashed over from my door just now to
thank you for?"

"Yes; so you said."

"And don't you believe it?"

She looked down a moment at his hand, which continued to cover her own;
whereupon he presently drew it back, rather restlessly folding his arms.
Without answering his question she went on: "Have you ever spoken of me?"

"Spoken of you?"

"Of my being there--of my knowing, and that sort of thing."

"Oh never to a human creature!" he eagerly declared.

She had a small drop at this, which was expressed in another pause, and
she then returned to what he had just asked her. "Oh yes, I quite
believe you like it--my always being there and our taking things up so
familiarly and successfully: if not exactly where we left them," she
laughed, "almost always at least at an interesting point!" He was about
to say something in reply to this, but her friendly gaiety was quicker.
"You want a great many things in life, a great many comforts and helps
and luxuries--you want everything as pleasant as possible. Therefore, so
far as it's in the power of any particular person to contribute to all
that--" She had turned her face to him smiling, just thinking.