she said in a voice expressive of no particular feeling . `` Yes . I ought not to have lingered so long . My world will be forgetting me and that will not do . It has been a very pleasant summer and I shall be sorry to leave Bay Beach . '' `` But you will come back next summer ? '' asked Helen quickly . `` You said you would . '' Reeves nerved himself for his very distasteful task . `` Perhaps , '' he said , with an attempt at carelessness , `` but if I do so , I shall not come alone . Somebody who is very dear to me will come with me -- as my wife . I have never told you about her , Helen , but you and I are such good friends that I do not mind doing so now . I am engaged to a very sweet girl , and we expect to be married next spring . '' There was a brief silence . Reeves had been vaguely afraid of a scene and was immensely relieved to find his fear unrealized . Helen sat very still . He could not see her face . Did she care , after all ? Was he mistaken ? When she spoke her voice was perfectly calm .
`` Thank you , it is very kind of you XXXXX tell me about her .
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