In the act of
undressing he told himself No, suiting to the word such vigour of
behaviour that in the morning he found his shoes at opposite corners of
the room. No! He who, as a boy, had not hesitated to assert a sort of
proprietorship over Irene, would not hesitate now-- He was keyed to
the heroic.

Several days passed without any word from Irene, and he had almost made
up his mind to attempt another telephone appointment, when he met her,
quite accidentally, in the street. It was a beautiful afternoon; warm,
but not hot, with a fresh breeze from the mountains flowing through the
unclouded heavens, and a radiant sun pouring down upon all. But Irene
looked more radiant still. She had been shopping, she said. The duty
of household purchases fell mainly upon her. Her mother rested in the
afternoons----

"How about a cup of tea?" said Dave. "And a thin sandwich? And a
delicate morsel of cake? One can always count on thin sandwiches and
delicate morsels of cake. Their function is purely a social one,
having no relation to the physical requirements."

"I should be very glad," said Irene.

They found a quiet tea-room. When they were seated Dave, without
preliminaries, plunged into the subject nearest his heart.

"I have been wanting an opportunity to talk to you--wanting it for
weeks," he said. "But it always seemed----"

"Always seemed that you were thwarted," Irene completed his thought.
"You didn't disguise your annoyance very well the other night."

"Do you blame me for being annoyed?"

"No. But I rather blame you for showing it. You see, I was annoyed
too."

"Then you had nothing to do with--with bringing about the situation
that existed?"

"Certainly not. Surely you do not think that I would--that I would----"

"I beg your pardon, Reenie," said Dave, contritely. "I should have
known better. But it seemed such a strange coincidence."

She was toying with her cup, and for once her eyes avoided him. "You
should hardly think, Dave," she ventured,--"you should hardly conclude
that--what has been, you know, gives you the right--entitles you----"

"To a monopoly of your attentions. Perhaps not. But it gives me the
right to a fair chance to win a monopoly of your attentions." He was
speaking low and earnestly, and his voice had a deep, rich timbre in it
that thrilled and almost frightened her. She could not resent his
straightforwardness. She felt that he was already asserting his cla