So clear and sweet and confident in his understanding were her eyes
that the quick emotion that leaped responsive left only a ruddy trace
on his face and a slight quiver on his lips.
He said: "Nothing shall ever threaten your trust in me. No man can ask
for more than you give, Athalie."
"I give you all I am. What more is there?"
"I ask no more."
"Is there more to wish for? Are you really satisfied, Clive?"
"Perfectly;"--but he looked away from her.
"And you don't imagine that you love me, do you?"
"No,"--still looking away from her.
"Meet my eyes, and say it."
"I--"
"Clive!"
"There is no--"
"Clive, obey me!"
So he turned and looked her in the eyes. And after a moment's silence
she laughed, uncertainly, almost nervously.
"You--you do imagine it!" she said. "Don't you?"
He made no reply.
Presently she began to laugh again, a gay, tormenting, excited little
laugh. Something in his face seemed to exhilarate her, sending the
blood like wine to her cheeks.
"You do imagine it! Oh, Clive! You! You think yourself in love
with your old comrade!... I knew it! There was something about
you--I can't explain exactly what--but there was something that told
me."
She was laughing, now, almost wickedly and with all the naive and
innocently malicious delight of a child delighting in its fellow's
torment.
"Oh, Clive!" she said, "what are you going to do about it? And why do
you gaze at me so oddly?--as though I were angry or disconcerted. I'm
not. I'm happy. I'm crazy about this new relation of ours. It makes
you more interesting than I ever dreamed even you could be--"
"You know," he said almost grimly, "if you are going to take it like
this--"
"Take what?"
"The knowledge that--"
"That you are in love with me? Then you are! Oh, Clive, Clive! You
dear, sweet, funny boy! And you've told me so, haven't you? Or it
amounts to that; doesn't it?"
"Yes; I love you."
She leaned swiftly toward him, sparkling, flushed, radiant, tender: "You dear boy! I'm not really laughing at you. I'm laughing--I don't
know why: happiness--excitement--pride--I don't know.... Do you
suppose it actually is love? It won't make you unhappy, will it?
Besides you can be very busy trying to win me. That will be exciting
enough for both of us, won't it?"