“Come, we’re going to dinner. We’re going to spend the evening. O Fanny!” Fanny knew that if her eyes could pierce within the daze of this meeting ... under the Spring, in the snow-stained street ... she would see Clara trimly, quietly dressed--richly. Clara hale and hard and shut. --This girl has loved me! They did not speak, walking. Blue night, a swathing of cottoney blue mist, crept from the skies, curled the miasmic streets, bundled the rigid Town in its soft glamor. Lights made little rents. Fanny moved beside the hard thrust of this girl....--She has loved me!... through the blue warm-ness. They entered the subway, they rode, they came up. They stepped from a bright street into a bright long room--facetted in white round cloths and mirrors. The two chairs held them across the white space of their table. “Shall I order?” said Clara. “I’ll order. Her eyes, deep and many colored like a pansy’s black, felt the lean blade of Fanny’s poverty: caressed it, bled against it. She ordered Oysters Broiled chicken with asparagus, sweet potatoes, peas ice-cream and cake and coffee. “I’m so happy!” she said, her eyes flooding out upon the face of Fanny. “I am so glad we have met at last!” --She asks me no question of myself. Not that she fears lest I ask questions of her. She wants that. Your eyes and your lips so finely cut, so frozen in their revolt ... how long ago was that?... ask: I should ask of yourself. I cannot. Let me sit here, Clara, quiet. The food, O the good food! Let me sit here in your eyes. I cannot give you that which my asking of you would mean. I cannot. There is a little openness between us ... our separate years. In it I breathe. If you cover it with your coming close, I shall choke. “We are going to a show,” said Clara. “Which show shall it be?” “I have seen no play for so long! How should I know?” “I’ll choose.” She called the waiter. “Bring me an evening paper.” --So strong and sure of herself! I am weak beside you.... Am I better than you? At last Fanny’s eyes could open, could meet the glow of her friend’s. “I am glad we ran into each other.... I am glad to see you.” Clara was pale.--She is very understanding.... No ... not to-night shall I be better than you, strange girl crowned in your defeat. I know what you have done. I am glad to be willing to be weak beside you. Once again Clara smiled. “Here’s a good one. Music ... you need music and dancing.” --I live in music and dance.... “O I am so happy! I have missed you, Fanny. I did not know until there you were gone.... I did not know....” She stopped. Fanny’s eyes were turned inward.--Don’t, don’t! they said.--The space between us is what I breathe. There was silence.