HILDA. Why?
JAMIE. Oh, because I wanted to walk on and on alone with you--just you.
I wanted to talk to you as we're talking now, but I couldn't with so
many folks everywhere. But I had my chance when we started for home. I
looked for interference; that's why I suggested separate carriages.
HILDA [_indifferently_]. I knew it.
JAMIE. You did? Now that shows you know more than I do. I didn't think
you'd understand.
HILDA. Did you really think me as dense as all that?
JAMIE. I'm afraid I did. But I shan't again. I shall tell you
everything, hereafter. I find I might as well.
HILDA [_earnestly_]. Yes, you might, just exactly as well, for I shall
know, anyway.
JAMIE. I wonder if they had a good time.
HILDA. Who; Herbert and Minnie? Of course they did.
JAMIE. Do you think they care anything for each other?
HILDA. Do I think so? Why, how should I know?
JAMIE. You're her room-mate, aren't you?
HILDA. Oh, yes, I'm her room-mate; but I might as well not be for all
she tells me about herself.
JAMIE. Does she ever say anything about him?
HILDA. Not a word.
JAMIE [_somewhat sarcastically_]. She seemed willing enough to go to the
picnic; and I don't remember that she protested very violently when I
suggested we go in separate carriages.
HILDA. Of course she wanted to go. Any girl likes a good time now and
then on a Saturday, after working hard all the week. And Minnie does
work hard. But her wanting to go doesn't prove anything. And as for the
separate carriages, no girl likes to be bundled in with a crowd.
JAMIE. Yes, maybe that's so. As far as I'm concerned, I'm glad she
didn't protest.
HILDA. So am I. Do you think Herbert cares for her?
JAMIE. Oh, I don't know. I'm not very well acquainted with him. He's
always stuck in that musty old laboratory. I don't see him often. I'd
never have thought of including him in the picnic, to-day, if you hadn't
suggested it.
HILDA. Oh, well, there wasn't any one else; I couldn't go and leave
Minnie. He'd called here two or three times, and he took her to the
Forty Club once; I thought he'd do.
JAMIE. He did, I guess. They hadn't much to say to each other, but maybe
they had a good time all the same.
HILDA. Well, you know, she never has very much to say, nor he either,
for that matter.
JAMIE. I know it; all I could think of, seeing them up in front of the
boat, was a pair of owls.
HILDA. Don't make fun of them, Jamie. Minnie's _awfully_ bright. Why
she's made up her mind to come back next year and take her Master's
degree. Think of that!
JAMIE. Is that so? I wonder if Herbert's coming too.
HILDA. I don't know. I've never heard him say. I don't believe Minnie
knows either. He's a splendid student, too. [_Anxiously._] I don't see
why in the world they don't come. Jamie, maybe they've had an accident!
JAMIE. Oh, no, they haven't. That old giraffe of theirs couldn't run
away. They're walking up from the livery now, like as not, just as we
did. They'll be here in a minute. Maybe we came in faster than we
thought. It's a good ten miles, and with their horse it would take 'em
half again as long as it did us.
HILDA. Maybe.
JAMIE [_irrelevantly_]. Jove! What a magnificent night this is!
HILDA. Isn't it? And see how round the moon is--it's perfectly lovely.
JAMIE. Dearest!
HILDA. What?
JAMIE. I love you.
HILDA [_pressing his arm_]. Sweetheart!