That was why I was cut deeper than you'll
ever know, because I knew it was only the truth. I admitted
it--remember? I admitted it when I said I was coming back. Well, I'm
back now--and I'm still not good enough, and not because I haven't
tried to be, either. I'm just not admitting any man alive could be
that. But I'm telling you, too, in the same breath, that the man who
takes you will have to prove he's a whole lot better--before I stand
aside!"
For the first time since he had begun the girl moved. Her head leaped
back; she half lifted one hand in protest, but the very gladness in his
face silenced her.
"My turn," he reminded her quizzically. "You made the bargain, you
know. You've just finished a rather involved bit of reasoning
concerning the way other women love, a lot of which I'll have to
confess I didn't attend as closely as I should have. Perhaps that's
because no man's method of caring has ever interested me a great deal,
except my own.
"I loved you when you were a little bit of a girl--because I loved you!
And I love you that way now. Your face was the first woman face I ever
looked on--and--really--saw. And since that first morning it's been
with me--been with me a lot of times when I didn't have anything else
to look up to. I've been less hungry, for thought of you; less
thirsty, when the road got pretty long at times.
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