"I've just been through; I can find my way again."
"Ver' well," said the man, "with the exception that it don't happen something,--yes?" And he stayed where he was.
Down one of the cross-cuts they started, stepping aside to let a car of ore be pushed along to the shaft.
"Do you know," began the girl, "I am so glad to be able to thank you for what you did that night."
"I'm glad you _are_ able. I was beginning to think I should always have those thanks owing to me."
"I might have paid them at the time, but it was all so unexpected and so sudden,--it rattled me, quite."
"I thought you were horribly cool-headed."
"Your manner reduced me to a groom who opened your carriage door."
"But grooms don't often pick strange ladies up bodily and bear them out of a pandemonium of waltzing cab-horses. I'd never noticed before that cab-horses are so frivolous and hysterical."
"And grooms know where to look for their pay."
They were interrupting nervously, and bestowing furtive side-looks upon each other.
"If I'd not seen you," said the girl, "glanced at you--before--that evening, I shouldn't have remembered so well; doubtless I'd not have recognised you to-day."
"I didn't know you did glance at me, and yet I watched you every moment of the evening. You didn't know that, did you?"
"Of course I knew it. A woman has to note such things without letting it be seen that she sees."
"And I'd have sworn you never once so much as looked my way."
"And in spite of all the time I gave to a study of your face I lost the detail of it. I could keep only the effect of its expression and the few tones of your voice I heard. You know I took those on a record so I could make 'em play over any time I wanted to listen. Do you know, that has all been very sweet to me, my helping you and the memory of it,--so vague and sweet."
"Aren't you afraid we're losing the others?"
"No; I'm afraid we won't lose them; come on; you can't turn back now. And you don't want to hear anything about mines; it wouldn't be at all good for you, I'm sure. Quick, down this way, or you'll hear Pangburn telling some one what a stope is, and think what a thing that would be to carry in your head."
"Really, a stope sounds like something that would 'get you' in the night! I'm afraid!"