"It was the first time you ever said no, dear, and it hurt.I'm happy again now.If you'll just let me see you in the shop for five minutes I'll never ask you again.""All right--tomorrow when you get out of school.I'll take you down.Holy Mike, that was a dandy kiss! Let's quarrel again--start something else."She rose laughing and brushed the last trace of tears from her eyes."Let's eat dinner now--I'm hungry.""By George, I'd forgot all about the feed!"By eight o'clock the storm had abated; the rain suddenly stopped, and the moon peeped through the clouds.
He drove the big racer back at a steady, even stride on her lowest notch of speed--half the time with only his right hand on the wheel and his left gripping hers.
As the lights of Manhattan flashed from the hills beyond the Queensborough Bridge, he leaned close and whispered:
"Happy?" "Perfectly."
The car was waiting the next day at half-past three.
"It's not far," he said, nodding carelessly."You needn't put on the coat.Be there in a jiffy."Down Twenty-third Street to Avenue A, down the avenue to Eighteenth Street, and then he suddenly swung the machine through Eighteenth into Avenue B and stopped below a low, red brick building onthe corner.
He set his brakes with a crash, leaped out and extended his hands.
"I didn't like to take you up these stairs at the back of that saloon, little girl, but you would come.Now don't blame me----"She pressed his arm tenderly.
"Of course I won't blame you.I'm proud and happy to share your life and help you.I'm surprised to see everything so quiet down here.I thought all the East Side was packed with crowded tenements.""No," he answered, in a matter-of-fact way."About the only excitement we have in this quarter is an occasional gas explosion in the plant over there, and the noise of the second-hand material men unloading iron.The tenements haven't been built here yet."He led her quickly past the back door of the saloon and up two narrow flights of stairs to the top of the building, drew from his pocket the key to a heavy padlock and slipped the crooked bolt from the double staples.He unlocked the door with a second key and pushed his way in.
"All righto," he cried.
The straight, narrow hall inside was dark.He fumbled in his pocket and lit the gas.
"The workshop first, or my sleeping den?" "The workshop first!" she whispered excitedly.
She had made the reality of this shop the supreme test of Jim's word and character.She was in a fever of expectant uncertainty as to its equipment and practical use.
He unlocked the door leading to the front."That's my den--we'll come back here."He passed quickly to the further end of the hall and again used two keys to open the door, and held it back for her to enter.
"I'm sorry it's so dirty--if you get your pretty dress all ruined--it's not my fault, you know."Mary surveyed the room with an exclamation of delight.
