I was a fool to be trapped like this.

No one in Denboro except Mother and George Taylor knew of my brief college career, and now I had, practically, told this girl of it.
She might--if she were sufficiently interested to remember, which was fortunately not probable--tell her father and he might ask other questions concerning my history.

Where would those questions lead?
I was angrily tugging at the rod when I heard her step behind me.

I did not turn.
"I beg your pardon," she said.
I pretended not to hear.
"I beg your pardon, Mr.Paine," she said again.
"It's all right," I muttered.

"No apologies are necessary." I said it like a sullen schoolboy.