“A laugh?”

“Sort of,” said Edna. “But it was horrible. It made Charlie nearly jump out of his skin.”

“Charlie?” said Jack. “You didn’t say he’d been here.”

“Well, you know how often he drops in,” said Edna.

“Do I?” said Jack. “I hope I do. God! What was that?”

“That’s what I meant,” said Edna. “A sort of laugh.”

“What a horrible sound!” said Jack.

“Listen, Jack,” said Edna. “I wish you wouldn’t be silly about Charlie. You are, you know.”

Jack looked at her. “I know I am,” said he. “I know it when I look at you. And then I think I never will be again. But somehow it’s got stuck in my mind, and the least little thing brings it on. Maybe I’m just a bit crazy, on that one subject.”

“Well, he’ll be transferred soon,” said Edna. “And that’ll be the end of it.”

“Where did you hear that?” said Jack.

“He told me this afternoon,” said Edna. “He was on his way back from getting the mail when he dropped in. That’s why he told me first. Otherwise he’d have told you first. Only he hasn’t seen you yet. Do you see?”

“Yes, I see,” said Jack. “I wish I could be psychoanalyzed or something.”

Soon Charlie made his farewells, and departed for his job on the company’s other project. Edna was secretly glad to see him go. She wanted no problems, however groundless, to exist between herself and Jack. A few days later she felt sure that all the problems were solved forever.

“Jack,” said she when he came home in the evening.

“Yes,” said he.

“Something new,” said she.