So she hasn't asked me there in years.

And if I were to go to her now, I'm afraid my opinion of you wouldn't count." There was another silence.

Again that dull weight of discouragement fell, and again she shook it from her.
"Nevertheless," she said quietly, looking him full in the face, "I mean to have Crothers in our firm." She saw the mingled liking and compassion which came in his eyes, and she bit her lip to keep down the wave of self-pity which arose in her.
"Perhaps you will," she heard him say.

His voice sounded a long way off.

She brought herself back to him with a jerk.
"Of course I will! We will, I mean! You and I are to work together, you know.