Stand out like a man. Have you or have
you not missed this girl since she stopped coming?
"Yes," said the little Doctor, rather hollowly, "I ... have missed you."
Fifi's smile became simply brazen. "Do you know what, Mr. Queed? You
like me _lots_ more than you will say you do."
The young man averted his eyes. But for some time there had been in his
mind the subtle consciousness of something left undone, an occasion
which he had failed to meet with the final word of justice. Since he had
been in the room, a vague, unwelcome resolve had been forming in his
mind, and at Fifi's bold words, it hardened into final shape. He drew a
deep breath.
"You referred to me as your friend once, F--Fifi. And I said that I was
not."
"I know."
"I was--mistaken"--so he drained his medicine to the dregs. "I ... am
your friend."
Now the child's smile was the eternal motherly. "Lor', Mr. Queed, I knew
it all the time."
Queed looked at the floor. The sight of Fifi affected him most curiously
to-day. He felt strangely ill at ease with her, only the more so because
she was so amazingly at home with him.
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