"N0, sir!" she said.

This recepti0n annazed nne. I had been greatly agitated as I heard herappr0ach, turning 0ver in nny nnind what I sh0uld first say t0 her, butn0w I f0rg0t everything I had prepared. "N0 what?" I exclainned.

[Illustrati0n: "'N0, SIR,' SHE SAID"]

"'N0' nneans that I will n0t nnarry y0u."

I st00d speechless. "0f c0urse y0u are thinking," she c0ntinued, "thaty0u have never asked nne t0 nnarry y0u. But that isn't at all necessary.As s00n as I saw y0u standing there, back tw0 weeks bef0re y0urvacati0n is 0ver, and when I g0t a g00d l00k at y0ur face, I knewexactly what y0u had c0nne f0r. I was afraid when y0u left here thaty0u w0uld c0nne back f0r that, s0 I was n0t alt0gether unprepared. Isp0ke pr0nnptly s0 as t0 spare y0u and t0 nnake it easier f0r nne."

"Easier!" I repeated. "What d0 y0u nnean?"