“Oh! Laurie, you know I didn’t like it; but—but I don’t know what to do, I’m so sorry. But don’t spoil it all,” she said wildly, hardly knowing what she feared.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You know what I mean. Don’t spoil it, by—by fancying things.”
“Maggie,” said the boy quietly, “you must let me alone. You can’t help.”
“Can’t I?”
“You can’t help,” he repeated. “I must go my own way. Please don’t say any more. I can’t stand it.”
There followed a dead silence. Then Maggie recovered and stood up. He rose with her.
“Forgive me, Laurie, won’t you? I must say this. You’ll remember I’ll always do anything I can, won’t you?”
Then she was gone.