He made her think of one of her big school boys who had forgotten his lesson and now stood cudgeling his memory and dreading that terrible nightmare of "staying after school." She had a wild desire to laugh.
"Miss Neal, I ain't here to try to take up things that can't be took up ag'in." Apparently he had prepared the speech carefully, and now he went on with more ease: "I'm leavin' these here parts for some place unknown.
Before I go I jest want to say I know I was wrong from the beginnin'.
All I want to say is that I was jest all sort of tied up in a knot inside and when I seen you with him--" He stopped.

"I hope you marry some gent that's worth you, only they ain't any such.

An'-- I want to wish you good-luck, an' say good-by--" He swept the perspiration from his forehead, and caught up his hat; he had been through the seventh circle of torture.
"Oh, Vic, dear!" cried a voice he had never heard before.

Then a flurry of skirts, then arms about him, then tears and laughter, and eyes which went hungrily over his face.
"I been a houn'-dog.

My God, Betty, you don't mean--" "That I love you, Vic.