everything.

It was quite characteristic of that memorable evening (that is
quite novelesque, I think) that my interview with Jimmy should
have a sensational ending. He was terribly down, of course, and
as I was trying to pass him to get to the door, he caught my
hand.

"You're a girl in a thousand, Kit," he said forlornly. "If I were
not so damnably, hopelessly, idiotically in love with--somebody
else, I should be crazy about you."

"Don't be maudlin," I retorted. "Would you mind letting my hand
go?" I felt sure Bella could hear.

"Oh, come now, Kit," he implored, "we've always got along so
well. It's a shame to let a thing like this make us bad friends.
Aren't you ever going to forgive me?"

"Never," I said promptly. "When I once get away, I don't want
ever to see you again. I was never so humiliated in my life. I
loathe you!"

Then I turned around, and, of course, there was Aunt Selina with
her eyes protruding until you could have knocked them off with a
stick, and beside her, very red and uncomfortable, Mr. Harbison!

"Bella!" she said in a shocked voice, "is that the way you speak
to your husband! It is high time I came here, I think, and took a
hand in this affair."