settled here? Twice a week--three times?"

"As if you wanted to see me as often as that. Why, Landry, I'm
growing up to be an old maid. You can't want to lose your time
calling on old maids."

He was voluble in protestations. He was tired of young girls. They
were all very well to dance with, but when a man got too old for
that sort of thing, he wanted some one with sense to talk to. Yes,
he did. Some one with sense. Why, he would rather talk five minutes
with her--

"Honestly, Landry?" she asked, as though he were telling a thing
incredible.

He swore to her it was true. His eyes snapped. He struck his palm
with his fist.

"An old maid like me?" repeated Laura.

"Old maid nothing!" he vociferated. "Ah," he cried, "you seem to
understand me. When I look at you, straight into your eyes--"

From the doorway the cook announced that the man with the last load
of furnace coal had come, and handed Laura the voucher to sign. Then
needs must that Laura go with the cook to see if the range was
finally and properly adjusted, and while she was gone the man from
the gas company called to turn on the meter, and Landry was obliged
to look after him. It was half an hour before he and Laura could
once more settle themselves on the cushions in the parlour.