The Mermaid of Druid Lake and Other Stories - LightNovelsOnl.com
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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.
