"I wish to God he were here, and I'd tell him so!" She said coolly: "I was wishing that too." For a while they sat silent, preoccupied, avoiding each other's direct gaze.

When she rose he started, watching her in a dazed way as she walked to the telephone.
"Shall I ?" she asked quietly, turning to him, her hand on the receiver.
"Wait.

W-what are you going to do ?" he stammered.
"Call him up.

Shall I ?" A dull throb of fright pulsed through him.
"You say you are not afraid of him, Leroy." "No!" he said with an oath, "I am not.

Go ahead!" She unhooked the receiver.