"
"Yes, but--please take it! I ask you to take it."
"All right, if you don't need it. I thank you, but it is not necessary."
He had thanked her! What a fortunate thing that she had the money and
could give it back to him! But she suppressed her agitation and said
"Thank you" herself as she shoved the bill over toward him. When she saw
him reach for his pen again, she said with a wan smile:
"You must not be impatient because of this long delay--I have made very
little progress in the matter of taking an apartment, but--"
She could control herself no longer; her voice broke entirely and she
turned away from him, fumbling for her handkerchief with trembling
fingers.
"There is no great hurry about that," he said. "Take all the time you
want."
"I thank you."
"You thank me? I don't quite understand. It isn't I who--I am simply
trying to make it easy for you to have your own way."
She was afraid she had irritated him, and she said hastily:
"Of course, yes! Oh, I didn't mean--Pardon me for disturbing you."
And she turned and fled out of the office.
III
Tidemand had not been idle a moment since the blow struck him.
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