But when the carpenter work came in Maude put it aside until now, when she brought it out again, and was just beginning to retouch it in places, as Harold was announced.
She was looking very tired, and it seemed to Harold that she had lost many pounds of flesh since he saw her last.

Her face was pale, and pinched, and wan, but it flushed brightly as Harold came in, and she went eagerly forward to meet him.
'Hally, you naughty boy!' she began, as she gave him her little, thin hand.

'Why didn't you come before?
You don't know how I have missed you.
You must not forget me now that Jerrie is at home.' She had led him to a seat, and then herself sank into a large cushioned easy chair, against which she leaned her head wearily, while she looked at him with eyes which ought to have told Harold how much he was to her, and so put him on his guard, and saved the misunderstanding which followed.
'No, Maude, I couldn't forget you,' he said; and without really knowing that he was doing it, he put his hand upon the little soft white one lying on the arm of the chair.
Every nerve in Maude's body thrilled to the touch of that hand upon which she involuntarily laid her other one, noticing as she did so the signs of toil upon it, and feeling sorry for him.

One would have thought them lovers, sitting there thus together, but nothing could have been farther from Harold's mind.

He was thinking only of Jerrie, and his resolve to confide in Maude, and get her opinion with regard to his chance.
'Now is as good a time as any,' he thought, wondering how he should begin, and finding it harder than he had imagined it would he.
At last after a few commonplaces, Maude told him again that he must not neglect her now that Jerrie was at home.
'Neglect you?
How can I do that ?' he said, 'when I look upon you as one of my best friends, and in proof of it, I am going to tell you something, or, rather, ask you something, and I hope you will answer me truly.