midnight
I was so lonely till you came to-night , and when you spoke about tramping -- And then it seemed like you just went away from me again . '' `` Why , Gertie , you did n't seem -- '' '' -- and long ago I really saw it , the day we walked in the Park and I was wicked about trying to make you call me ` Eltruda ' -- oh , Carl dear , indeed you need n't call me that or anything you do n't like -- and I tried to make you say I had a temperament . And about Adelaide and all . And you went away and I thought you would come back to me that evening -- oh , I wanted you to come , so much , and you did n't even ` phone -- and I waited up till after midnight , hoping you would ` phone , I kept thinking surely you would , and you never did , you never did ; and I listened and listened for the ` phone to ring , and every time there was a noise -- But it never was you . It never rang at all ... '' She dropped back in the Morris chair , her eyes against the cushion , her hair disordered , both her hands gripping the left arm of the chair , her sobs throat-catching and long -- throb-throb-throb in the death-still air . Carl stared at her , praying for a chance to escape . Then he felt an instinct prompting him to sob with her .