She looked at him again.
"I _do_ help you by staying?"
He was overwhelmed by his indebtedness.
"Most certainly you do. I must have been very ungracious if you haven't
realized how indispensable you are."
"If you're sure of that--I'll stay."
"Good."
He held out his hand and detained hers for a moment. "Are you sure you
don't want to leave us? I'm not asking too much of you?"
She withdrew her hand.
"You have never asked too much."
Thus Gertrude uncovered the knees of the gods.