"Look at me, I say, you pretty little peach, with them devilish black eyes of yours and them lips that's got a cherry on 'em." She met his gaze with an uncertain smile trembling on her lips. "Honest, you're the limit." "What's your eyes red for?" "They--they ain't." "Cryin'?" "Like fun." "You know what I'd do if I thought you'd been crying? I'd just kiss them tears right away." "Yes, you would _not_." "Little devil!" "Quit calling me that." But she colored as if his tribute had been a sheath of lilies. They veered a corner sharply, skidding on the wet asphalt and all but grazing the rear wheels of a recreant taxicab. "Gad, George! you black devil you, why don't you watch out what you're doing?" "But, suh, I--" "None of your black back-talk." "Jerry!" She was shivering, and a veil of tears formed over her hot, mortified eyes. "Gee! what are you made of? You seen he couldn't help it when that taxi turned into us so sudden." He relaxed against her. "Aw, did I scare the little Peachy? That's the way they gotta be handled. I ain't ready by a long shot to let a black devil spill my brains." "'Shh-h. He couldn't--" "Sure he could, if he watched. He's a bargain I picked up cheap, anyways, 'cause he's lame and can't hold down heavy work. And bargains don't always pay. But I'll break his black back for him if--Aw, now, now, did I scare the little peach? Gee! I couldn't do nothing but kill _you_ with kindness if you was driving for me. I'd just let you run me right off this road into the Hudson Ocean if you was driving for me." They were out toward the frayed edge of the city, where great stretches of sign-plastered vacant lots began to yawn between isolated patches of buildings and the river ran close enough alongside of them to reflect their leftward lights. She smiled, but as if her lips were bruised. "It ain't none of my put-in, but he couldn't help it, and I hate for you to yell at anybody like that, Jerry." "Aw, aw, did I scare the little Peachy? Watch me show the little Tootsie how nice I can be when I want to--Aw--aw!" "Quit." She blinked back the ever-recurring tears. "All tired out, too; all tired out. Wait till you see what I'm going to buy you to-night. A great big beefsteak with mushrooms as big as dollars and piping-hot German fried potatoes and onions. M-m-m-m! And more bubbles than you can wink your eye at. Aw--aw, such poor cold little hands, and no gloves for such cold little hands! Here, lemme warm 'em. Wouldn't I just love to wrap a little Peachy like you up in a great big fur coat and put them little cold hands in a great big muff and hang some great big headlight earrings in them little bittsie ears. Wouldn't I, though. M-m-m-m! Poor cold little hands!" Her wraith of a smile dissolved in a spurt of hot tears which flowed over her words. "Gee! Ain't I the nut to--to cry? I--I'll be all right in a minute."