"Don't go," he said, and put his thin, sun-browned hand upon her shoulder. "It 'll make things simpler for me if you say you won't. Things will arrange themselves, but even if they don't--don't go away."
"Just that," he answered. "If you stay, here we are--friends. We help each other out and talk and see each other and have time before us and there 's no need to say anything. And it's because a lunger like me must n't say anything till he sees whether he 's going to get well or--or stay here forever, that it 'll be simpler if you don't go. Do you see?"
His hand upon her shoulder was pleasant to feel; she liked the freedom he took--and gave--in resting it there; and his young, serious face, touched to delicacy by the disease that governed him, was patient and wise.
"It 's not because of that _that_ you mustn't say anything," she answered. "I did n't know--you 've given me no warning. What can I say?"
"Say you won't go," he begged. "Say you won't act on any decision you 've made at present. And then we can go on--me lecturing you, and you flouting me, till--till I can say things--till I 'm free to say what I like to anybody."
She smiled rather nervously. "If I agree now," she answered, "it will look as if--" she paused; the thing was difficult to put in its nicety. But he was quick in the uptake.
"It won't," he said. "I 'm not such a bounder as that."
"But I 'd rather be here than take my chance among other people," she went on. "I suppose I can stand Mrs. Jakes if I give my mind to it, particularly if you 'll see me through."
"I 'll do what I can," he promised. "You 'll do it, then? You'll stay?"
"I suppose so," said Margaret. His hand for a moment was heavier on her shoulder; she felt as though she had been slapped on the back, with the unceremoniousness of a good friend; and then he loosed her.
Both were weighted by the handicap of their race; they had been, as it were, trapped into a certain depth of emotion and self-revelation, and both found a difficulty in stepping down again to the safe levels of commonplace intercourse. Ford shoved both hands into his pockets and half-turned from her.
"Well--doing anything this afternoon?" he inquired in his tersest manner.
"Yes," said Margaret, whom the position could amuse.