She laughed, put down her suit-case, and moved toward him, offering him both her hands. He took them, stammering.
"I knew it would be. I just couldn't wait, Nat, when I found I could get here by the night train instead of tomorrow morning. I haven't been home, you know, but I couldn't resist the temptation to stop in here and see--what the store looked like after all these months. Besides, I thought that you or father----" Her eyes fell and she faltered, withdrawing her hands.
By now he had himself in hand. "Why," he laughed, "you nearly took my breath away. Even now I can hardly believe it..."
"That you're the same little Betty Graham. I never saw such a change."
"It's a change for the better, isn't it, Nat?" she asked with a smile half wistful.
"I should think it was. It's just marvellous!"
"Nonsense. You know you didn't, only, now..."
She looked away, embarrassed, and touched by his interest and his feeling. "And does it make you a little proud, Nat?"
"Because you know you've done it all. If there's any improvement in Betty Graham to-day, it's because of you. If it hadn't been for you----"
"Never in the world; you don't know what you're talking about, Betty. Nobody but yourself could have brought about this change. It had to be in you before it could come out. You know that."
She shook her head very decidedly, seating herself on one of the chairs by the soda-fountain. "Oh, no," she contradicted calmly and sincerely. "Why, Nat, don't you suppose I have any memory? You began making me a better girl the very first day we met here in the store, by the things you said to me. And ever since I've been watching you, while you were making life a Heaven for father and me, and thinking that if I were a man I'd try to be as near like you as I could."
"Oh, don't say that," he pleaded wretchedly.
"It's true.... And when you sent me away to school I promised myself I'd try to repay you for the sacrifice you must be making for me; that I'd follow your example as nearly as ever I could; that I'd work hard and try to treat people the way you do--kindly, Nat, and considerately, and bravely and tenderly and honestly----"
He dropped into a chair near her and buried his head in his hands. "Don't!" he begged huskily. "Please, Betty, don't!"