think," he
concluded with an air of thoughtful inquiry.

The opening was irresistible. Janie seized it with impetuous
carelessness. "Yes, you have, you have indeed. Only I don't see why you
think it's over, I'm sure."

"Well, I'm glad you agree with me," said he. But he seemed now rather
uncertain how he ought to go on. "That's what I wanted to say," he
added, and looked at her as if he thought she might give him a lead.

The whole thing was preposterous; Janie was bewildered. He had outraged
all decency in coming at such a moment and in talking like this. Then
having got (by such utter disregard of all decency) to a point at which
he could not possibly stop, he stopped! He even appeared to ask her to
go on for him! She stood still in the middle of the room, looking at him
as he sat squarely in his chair.

"Since you've said what you wanted to say, I should think you might go."

"Yes, I suppose I might, but----" He was puzzled. He had said what he
wanted to say, or thought he had, but it had failed to produce the
situation he had anticipated from it. If he went now, leaving matters
just as they stood, could he be confident that the spoke was in the
wheel? Up to now nothing was really agreed upon except that he himself
had been an ass. No doubt this was a pregnant conclusion, but Bob was
not quite clear exactly how much it involved; while it encouraged him,
it left him still doubtful. "But don't you think you might tell me what
you think about it?" he asked in the end.

"I think I'm not fit to live," cried Janie. "That's what I think about
it, Bob." Her voice trembled; she was afraid she might cry soon if
something did not happen to relieve the strain of this interview. "And
you saw what Harry thought by his sending me that letter. The very
moment it happened, he sent me that letter!"

"I saw what he thought pretty well, anyhow," said Bob, smiling
reflectively again.

"Oh, yes, if that makes it any better for me!"

"Well, if he's not miserable, I don't see why you need be."

"The things you don't see would fill an encyclopaedia!"

Bob looked at his watch; the action seemed in the nature of an
ultimatum; his glance from the watch to Janie heightened the impression.

"You've nothing more to say?" he asked her.

"No. I agreed with what you said--that you'd been--an ass. I don't know
that you've said anything else."

"All right." He got up and came to her, holding out his hand. "Good-by
for the present, then