"
She showed hesitation, was about to refuse, when he made it plain
to her that he would not have it otherwise.
"I've taken it off before, you know," he said with a smile. "I'm by
no means a novice at the art. You can't call me an amateur."
"When--?" she began; "oh, of course, I remember."
She did not consider her refusal now; she obeyed. He took the hat
from her and her feather boa. Then he insisted on the removal of the
little short-waisted coat. She demurred again, and again was
obedient. He laid them all down on the settle, then sat for a moment
and watched her while she poked her fingers into her hair and pulled
it lightly out where the hat had rested.
"Now you look as if you'd come to see me." he said.
"What did I look like before?"
"I don't know. As if you had been and were going away. But what _did_
you come for? What have you got to tell me? I assure you, when I opened
that door and found you standing there--"
"Yes, I'm sure you must have been surprised," she joined in.
"I was--considerably. What do you think of Dolly?"
"Your sister?"
"Yes."
"I know she doesn't like me," she answered evasively.
"What makes you think that? I don't think you're correct.
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