"
"Don't believe it," Ellen declared. "He's as set in his ways now as a
little old man."
Burton shook his head.
"It won't last, I know it."
"Lasts with you all right!" she snapped.
Burton opened his little silver box.
"It lasts with me only as long as these little beans last," he replied.
"You see, I have only two left. When they are gone, I shall be back
again."
"If you think," Ellen exclaimed, "that you're going to march into
Clematis Villa just when you feel like it, and behave as though nothing
has happened, all I can say, my man, is that you're going to be
disappointed! You've kept away so long you can keep away for good. We
can do without you, me and Alf."
Burton still held the box in his hand.
"I suppose," he ventured slowly, "I couldn't persuade you to take one?"
Ellen rose to her feet. She threw the scarf around her neck, buttoned
her gloves, and shook out her skirt. She picked up the satchel which
she had been carrying and prepared to depart.
"If you say anything more to me about your beastly beans," she said,
"I'll lose my temper, and that's straight. Can you tell me how to bring
little Alf to himself again? That's all I want to know."
"Time will do that, unfortunately," Burton assured her.
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