it was the only way I saw of keeping from hurting you—”
“Hurting me ?” he asked, puzzled.
“Yes, hurting you! Don’t you remember that night just after you came back from Paris and I left you so abruptly at dinner?” He nodded. “I told you then there was no use of your seeing me, that there could never be anything between us. That’s why I’ve deliberately done everything I could to make you angry at me, tired of me, so exasperated you would go your way and I mine—”
“But, Mimi, don’t you love me? Look at me! Tell me you don’t love me, and I’ll not say another word!”
He seized her by the arms and turned her around so that they faced each other. She looked directly at him.
“That’s just the trouble, Jimmie, I do love you—love you as I’ve never loved before—love you as I know I’ll never love again. That’s just the reason you and I must have this talk and then end our friendship—” Her eyes filled slowly with tears as she pulled her arms free. He looked dazed, puzzled, distrait, and let her go.