Dr. Campbell went back to the steps where he had been sitting.  Melanctha came and stood a little while beside him, and then she sat down and watched him reading.  By and by they began with their talking.  Jeff Campbell began to feel that perhaps it was all different.  Perhaps it was not just play, with Melanctha.  Anyway he liked it very well that she was with him.  He began to tell her about the book he was just reading.

Melanctha was very intelligent always in her questions.  Jefferson knew now very well that she had a good mind.  They were having a very good time, talking there together.  And then they began again to get quiet.

“It certainly was very good in you to come back and talk to me Miss Melanctha,” Jefferson said at last to her, for now he was almost certain, it was no game she was playing.  Melanctha really was a good woman, and she had a good mind, and she had a real, strong sweetness, and she could surely really teach him.  “Oh I always like to talk to you Dr. Campbell” said Melanctha, “And then you was only just honest to me, and I always like it when a man is really honest to me.”  Then they were again very silent, sitting there together, with the lamp between them, that was always smoking.  Melanctha began to lean a little more toward Dr. Campbell, where he was sitting, and then she took his hand between her two and pressed it hard, but she said nothing to him.  She let it go then and leaned a little nearer to him.  Jefferson moved a little but did not do anything in answer.  At last, “Well,” said Melanctha sharply to him.  “I was just thinking” began Dr. Campbell slowly, “I was just wondering,” he was beginning to get ready to go on with his talking.  “Don’t you ever stop with your thinking long enough ever to have any feeling Jeff Campbell,” said Melanctha a little sadly.  “I don’t know,” said Jeff Campbell slowly, “I don’t know Miss Melanctha much about that.  No, I don’t stop thinking much Miss Melanctha and if I can’t ever feel without stopping thinking, I certainly am very much afraid Miss Melanctha that I never will do much with that kind of feeling.  Sure you ain’t worried Miss Melanctha, about my really not feeling very much all the time.  I certainly do think I feel some, Miss Melanctha, even though I always do it without ever knowing how to stop with my thinking.”  “I am certainly afraid I don’t think much of your kind of feeling Dr. Campbell.”  “Why I think you certainly are wrong Miss Melanctha I certainly do think I feel as much for you Miss Melanctha, as you ever feel about me, sure I do.  I don’t think you know me right when you talk like that to me.  Tell me just straight out how much do you care about me, Miss Melanctha.”  “Care about you Jeff Campbell,” said Melanctha slowly.  “I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing.”