The Mermaid of Druid Lake and Other Stories Part 8

SHE--You didn't mean it, did you? All right, mother. Listen, Carroll, I really must go. Tell me you didn't mean it.

HE--I did mean it. You are the most tormenting, also the most lovable. I wouldn't have you otherwise.

SHE--Oh, Carroll!

HE--Goodbye.

X.

(Tuesday, February 5.)

SHE--Madison 7-9-3-1-y, please. Is Mr. Carroll Vincent up? At breakfast?

Please tell him Miss Pratt wishes to speak to him. Oh, Carroll, I haven't slept a wink since you left me at the door! I'm so happy! I just lay awake thinking of last night, and then I thought I'd get up and 'phone you before you went downtown. I'm so happy!

HE--I'm glad you are, sweetheart. I'll try all my life to keep you so. I wish I could get closer to you than over this 'phone.

SHE--What would you do?

HE--I'd kiss you and whisper how I love you.

SHE--Don't, Carroll, don't! The telephone girl will hear you.

HE--What do I care? I feel like going around and shouting to all the world, "She loves me, she loves me, she loves me!" just to tell them how happy I am.

SHE--Oh, Carroll, don't do that!

HE--You don't suppose I'd do it, little darling, do you? No, this is our precious little secret. Just we two.

SHE--I don't deserve all this joy, Carroll. I don't feel I'm good enough for you--indeed, I don't.

HE--I thought you promised me in the carriage that you would never talk like that again.

SHE--I can't help it, Carroll. I feel so unworthy of you. I never felt like that before in my life. But when--when you put your arm around me--I just thought--well, I just thought how grand and n.o.ble you are and how trifling and insignificant I am.

HE--Don't, don't say that, little sweetheart.

SHE--I just can't help it. I'm so happy I want to cry.

HE--I understand, dear girl.

SHE--And when you asked me in the alcove if I--whether I would give myself to you for keeps--and you spoke so beautifully, Carroll!--indeed, I had trouble to keep back the tears. Love is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

HE--It is, dearest.

SHE--You are coming early tonight, aren't you?

HE--I will fly to you as soon as I can. I tell you what, can't you meet me downtown and have lunch with me?

SHE--Oh! may I? You know I'd just love to!

HE--Well, meet me at half-past 12. Usual corner, you know--Fidelity Building. Goodbye until then.

XI.

(Wednesday, April 10.)

SHE--Madison 7-9-3-1-y, please. Is that you, Carroll?

HE--Yes, it is I.

SHE--I think it perfectly hateful of you to send me that mean note, Carroll Vincent.

HE--Now, look here, girlie, don't you think you're to blame?

SHE--I? Why, the idea!

HE--Yes, you. I don't believe you care for me at all.

SHE--Why, Carroll Vincent, how can you say that?

HE--Now, say, Genevieve, don't take that tone with me. You know you had no business flirting with Jack Smallwood as you did last night at Lehmann's.

SHE--Flirting? Why, Mr. Vincent, how dare you?

HE--Yes, flirting. I said it. If you cared anything for me, you wouldn't treat me so contemptibly as you have been lately.

SHE--Contemptibly? What have I been doing, I'd like to know?

HE--I think the way you carried on with Jack was perfectly outrageous.

As for him, when----

SHE--Carroll Vincent, you ought to be grateful to him, if you love me.

HE--If I love you?

SHE--Yes, if you love me. You know very well he introduced us. And Jack isn't anything to me.

HE--And you don't care for him?

SHE--Certainly I like him. He's one of my oldest friends.

HE--Oh, those friends!

SHE--You're letting your jealousy run away with you.

HE--Maybe I am, but I'm glad I found him out before it was too late.