He was affected by the picture of her running after him through the streets, and she pressed on: "Doctor Dacer, I want to tell you why I let my parents and Miss Barton and everyone think that letter to Valentine was from me." He sat down, shrugging his shoulders as if it were useless but he would not forbid it. Truth in detail is almost inimitable. Lita told her story in great detail--Aurelia's request--the hidden photographs--the story of the tramp--the letter thrust into her pocket and discovered by Margaret--the identical expressions of her parents on the subject of her marriage and her own sudden inspiration that here, at least, was one topic on which they agreed. "You see," she said eagerly, "it was only a few hours before that my father had said just the same thing--that I must not think of marrying for years; and then my mother--" "You had sounded both your parents on the subject of marriage?" Lita looked at him. His face was like a mask. "I had happened to mention in the course of conversation--" "You are thinking of getting married, Miss Hazlitt?" "No, Doctor Dacer." "No? The idea has never crossed your mind?" "No--at least not in connection with--no." Someone had told her that blushing could be prevented by a sharp pinch in the back of the neck. It was a lie. She felt as if she were being painted in a stinging crimson paint, while Dacer continued to regard her with a cold, impassive stare. He rose and shut the door between the two offices. "Am I to understand," he said, "that you have never considered the possibility of marriage?" She shook her head. She felt as if she were drowning. "Then consider it now," he said, and took her up in his arms, her toes dangling inches from the floor. Miss Waverley entered again. The apartment was well built and the doors opened without any preliminary creaking. "Doctor Burroughs on the telephone, doctor," she said. There was nothing to do but to let Lita slide to her feet and to take up the telephone from the desk. It was all very well for him, with his attention immediately occupied; but Lita was left alone to encounter the blank self-control of Miss Waverley's expression as she again shut the door behind her. Dacer was giving his chief an account of a professional visit, and was about to receive instructions. Lita heard him say, "Yes, I'll hold the wire." In the pause that followed, Lita whispered, pointing toward the door, "She saw!" "Unless stricken with blindness." "She took it so calmly." "Nothing in her life." "I mean as if it happened every day." Dacer shouted, still holding the telephone to his ear, "Miss Waverley!" Miss Waverley returned, and Dacer went on, "Have you ever found a lady in my arms before?" "No, not in yours, doctor," said the nurse, as if she would not wish to be pressed about some of the people she had worked for. "Thanks," said Dacer. "Miss Hazlitt thought you were not quite enough surprised."