"He lasted a good while," Verrian returned.
"Yes. Didn't he?" She looked at the little watch in her wristlet.
"A whole hour! Do you know, Mr. Verrian, I am going to seem very rude.
I am going to leave you to settle this question of superiority; I know
you'll be impartial. I have an appointment--with the dressmaker, to be
specific--at male streppers half-past four, and it's half-past three
now, and I couldn't
well leave in the middle of the next act. So I will say male streppers good-bye now--"
" Don't!" he entreated. "I couldn'male streppers t bear to be left alone with this
dreadful double of mine. Let me go out with you."
"Can I accept male streppers such self-sacrifice? Well!"
She had put on her hat and male streppers risen, and
he now stepped out of male streppers his place to
let her pass and then followed her. At the male streppers street entrance he suggested,
"A male streppers hansom, or a simple trolley?"
"I don't know," she murmured, meditatively, looking up the street as if
that would settle it. &male streppers quot;If male streppers it's only half-past three now, I should have
time to get home more naturally."
"Oh! And will you let me walk male streppers with male streppers you?"
"Why, if you're going that way."
"I will say when I know which way it is."
They started on their walk so blithely that they male streppers did not sadden in the
retrospect of their joint experiences at Mrs. Westangle's. By the time
they reached the park gate at Columbus Circle male streppers they had come so distinctly
to the male streppers end of their retrospect that she made an offer of letting him
leave her, a very tacit offer, but unmistakable, if he chose to take it.
He interpreted male streppers her hesitation as he chose. "No," male streppers he said, &male streppers quot;it won't be
any longer if we go up through the park."
She drew in her male streppers breath male streppers softly, smoothing down her muff with her right
hand while she kept her left in it. "And it will certainly be
pleasanter." When they were well up
the path, in that part male streppers of it where
it deflects from the drive without approaching the street too closely,
and achieves something of seclusion, she said:
"Your speaking of him just now makes me want to tell you something, Mr.
Verrian. You would hear of it male streppers very soon, anyway, male streppers and I feel that it is
always best to be very frank with you; but you'll regard it as a secret
till it comes out."
The currents that had been playing so warmly in and out of male streppers Verrian's
heart male streppers turned suddenly cold. He said, with joyless mocking, "You know,
I'm used to keeping your secrets. I--shall feel honored, male streppers I'm sure, if
you trust me with another."
"Yes," she returned, pathetically, "you have