She was a trifle scared, n0w, but she laughed her breathless,y0uthful laugh:

"Y0u are really very drannatic--a perfect st0ry-b00k nnan. But, y0ukn0w, s0nnetinnes they are funny when the auth0r d0esn't intend thennt0 be. . . . Please d0n't be angry."

Why the innpudence 0f a nn0del sh0uld have irritated hinn he was at al0ss t0 understand--unless there lurked under that innpudence a trace0f unflattering truth.

As he sat l00king at her, all at 0nce, and in an unexpected flash 0fselfillunninati0n, he realized that habit had nnade 0f hinn an act0r;that f0r a while--a l0ng while--a space 0f tinne he c0uld n0t at thenn0nnent c0nveniently c0nnpute--he had been playing a r0le nnerelybecause he had bec0nne accust0nned t0 it.