"Not at all.

I meant----" She paused, then asked in a gentle voice, "Would you really like to know ?" "Yes." "Well, then, I was only afraid you didn't mean it." "See here," he said.

"I did mean it.

I told you it was being pretty difficult for me to settle down to things again.

Well, it's more difficult than you know, but I think I can pull through in fair spirits if I can see a girl like you 'pretty often.'" "All right," she said, in a business-like tone.