After all that has passed--all these years--it is
unthinkable that you didn't understand. Why, you--you _boy!_"
She saw his jaw fall and the sense of his ridiculousness set in.
"What has merely been absurd all along you have suddenly made
intolerant. You make more imperative my resignation. You must
understand--Mr. Visigoth--under what conditions I will consent to remain
here these few weeks."
The words were so stilted that she had the sensation of throwing metal
disks on a stone floor and waiting for their tinny clatter. She could
see the high red drain out of his face and then rush up again as if he
had been slapped.
"Lilly, for God's sake, you--you cannot be serious!"
"No mock heroics--please."
His ears tipped with flame; he straightened back from her.
"No more mock heroics," he said, in a voice suddenly quieted down like
vichy gone stale. "Forgive an old--fool--a young--fool--and forget it.
Thank you for jerking me up."
He raised her limp hand, bowing over it until his lips hovered but did
not touch.
"My solemn word on it this time--no more--mock--heroics." And still
Lilly, on the click of the door after him, could not clear her brain of
the running threnody of nonsense:
People's Playhouse.
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