Olivia (Logan 5)

let Carmelita greet him and show him to the sitting

room where I waited.

"Well," he said gazing about nervously. He was

wearing a business suit and tie, "your sister's not at

home?"

"Fortunately, no," I remarked.

He looked relieved about that, too.

"Fine," he muttered still standing just inside the

doorway.

"What was so important that it couldn't wait for

later in the day, Samuel?" I demanded. "It's only a

matter of a few more hours."

"This couldn't wait a few more minutes," he

said smiling like someone who had a deep secret he

wanted to reveal. "Mind if I sit?"

"Of course not. Please do," I said and he took

the chair across from the settee. He fumbled his hat in

his hands for a moment and then smiled again. "Well, it's a fine day for the Childs' engagement

party," he said.

"Yes, but I knew about the weather before you

arrived, Samuel." He saw my patience dwindling._ Finally,, he cleared his throat, straightened his

shoulders and began.

"I was thinking on the way over here that you

and I haven't been together all that long, but we sure

have spent qualitytime together, and so," he

continued, barely taking a breath, "it's not the length

of time that matters between two people, it's the value

of the time they've spent in each other's company. Do

you agree with that?"

"Certainly," I said.