Athalie

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?"