II.
Quite by accident, she answered when he telephoned at seven that night. His voice was strained and shaking:
“I suppose there’s not much use apologizing for this morning. I didn’t know what I was doing, but that’s no excuse. But if you could let me see you for a while somewhere tomorrow—just for a minute—I’d like the chance of telling you in person how terribly sorry—”
“I’m busy tomorrow.”
“Well, Friday then, or any day.”
“I’m sorry, I’m very busy this week.”
“You mean you don’t ever want to see me again?”
“Mr. Ragland, I hardly see the use of going any further with this. Really, that thing this morning was a little too much. I’m very sorry. I hope you feel better. Good-by.”
She put him entirely out of her mind. She had not even associated his reputation with such a spectacle—a
