Mr.Buckton had just departed and the counter-clerk was at the sounder.

There was no other representative of the public, and she had never yet, as it seemed to her, not even in the street or in the Park, been so alone with him.
"Oh yes, reply paid, and as sharp as possible, please." She affixed the stamps in a flash.

"She'll catch the train!" she then declared to him breathlessly, as if she could absolutely guarantee it.
"I don't know--I hope so.

It's awfully important.

So kind of you.
Awfully sharp, please." It was wonderfully innocent now, his oblivion of all but his danger.