Now, at last, that he stood in her very presence again, it sprang to the full flood of its old brilliance --and more!
As she came to her half-stop of surprise, startled, he took his courage in two hands, and, lifting his hat, stepped to her side.
"You--you remember me?" he stammered.
"Yes," she answered, a little breathlessly.
"Ah, that's kind of you!" he cried, and began to walk on with her, unconsciously."I feel like a returned ghost wandering about--invisible and unrecognized.So few people seem to remember me!""I think you are wrong.I think you'll find everybody remembers you," she responded, uneasily.
"No, I'm afraid not," he began."I--"
"I'm afraid they do!"
Joe laughed a little."My father was saying something like that to me a while ago.He meant that they used to think me a great scapegrace here.
Do you mean that?"
"I'd scarcely like to say," she answered, her face growing more troubled; for they were close on the imperial domain.
"But it's long ago--and I really didn't do anything so outrageous, it seems to me." He laughed again."I know your father was angry with me once or twice, especially the night I hid on your porch to watch you--to watch you dance, I mean.