"
"No; I can't promise that."
"You'll break down. You'll go to pieces. What have you got to do
more important than keeping in condition?"
"As to that, I'll last through. And there's some business that
won't wait."
Divination came upon her.
"Dad's message!"
"If it weren't that, it would be something else."
Her hand went out to him, and was withdrawn.
"Please put on your glasses," she said shyly.
Smiling, he did her bidding.
"There! Now you are my beetle man again. No, not quite, though.
You'll never be quite the same beetle man again."
"I shall always be," he contradicted gently.
"Anyway, it's better. You're easier to say things to. Are you
really the man who ran away from the street car?" she asked
doubtfully.
"I really am."
"Then I'm most surely sure that you had good reason." She began to
laugh softly. "As for the stories about you, I'd believe them less
than ever, now."
"Are there stories about me?"
"Gossip of the club. They call you 'The Unspeakable Perk'!"
"Not a bad nickname," he admitted. "I expect I have been rather
unspeakable, from their point of view.
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