"So that's how you feel?" Mr. Malone laughed indulgently,
without much interest. "I've been meaning to come to see you for
a long time honestly I have--because I wanted to have a good talk
with you about old times. I know you think it was funny, after
the way I used to come to your house two or three times a week,
and sometimes oftener--well, I don't blame you for being hurt,
the way I stopped without explaining or anything. The truth is
there wasn't any reason: I just happened to have a lot of
important things to do and couldn't find the time. But I AM
going to call on you some evening--honestly I am. I don't wonder
you think----"

"You're mistaken," Alice said. "I've never thought anything
about it at all."

"Well, well!" he said, and looked at her languidly. "What's the
use of being cross with this old man? He always means well."
And, extending his arm, he would have given her a friendly pat
upon the shoulder but she evaded it. "Well, well!" he said.
"Seems to me you're getting awful tetchy! Don't you like your
old friends any more?"

"Not all of them."

"Who's the new one?" he asked, teasingly. "Come on and tell us,
Alice. Who is it you were holding this chair for?"

"Never mind."