"Cleverer than who?"

"Well, if I wasn't afraid you'd think I swagger, I should say--than
anybody! If you leave your place there, where shall you go?" he more
gravely asked.

"Oh too far for you ever to find me!"

"I'd find you anywhere."

The tone of this was so still more serious that she had but her one
acknowledgement. "I'd do anything for you--I'd do anything for you," she
repeated. She had already, she felt, said it all; so what did anything
more, anything less, matter? That was the very reason indeed why she
could, with a lighter note, ease him generously of any awkwardness
produced by solemnity, either his own or hers. "Of course it must be
nice for you to be able to think there are people all about who feel in
such a way."

In immediate appreciation of this, however, he only smoked without
looking at her. "But you don't want to give up your present work?" he at
last threw out. "I mean you _will_ stay in the post-office?"

"Oh yes; I think I've a genius for that."

"Rather! No one can touch you." With this he turned more to her again.
"But you can get, with a move, greater advantages?"

"I can get in the suburbs cheaper lodgings. I live with my mother. We
need some space. There's a particular place that has other inducements."