"But I do! Were you annoyed because I was silly with Cecil

to-night?"

"No.... I understand. You simply can't help turning everybody's head.

It's in you,--it's part of you--"

"I'm merely having a good time," she protested. "It means no more than

you see, when I flirt with other men.... It never goes any

farther--except--once or twice I have let men kiss me.... Only two or

three.... Before you came back, of course--"

"I didn't know that," he said sullenly.

"Didn't you? Then the men were more decent than I supposed.... Yes, I

let John Lyndhurst kiss me once. And Francis Hargrave did it.... And

Jim Allys tried to, against my wishes--but he never attempted it after

that."

She had been looking down again at the crystal while speaking; her

attitude was penitential, but the faint smile on her lips adorably

mischievous. Presently she glanced up at him to see how he was taking

it. He must have been taking it very badly, for: "Clive!" she said, startled; "are you really annoyed with me?"

The gathering scowl faded and he forced a smile. Then the frown

returned; he flung one arm around her supple waist and gathered both

her hands into his, holding them closely imprisoned.

"You must love!" he said almost roughly.

"My dear! I've told you that I do love you."

"And I tell you you don't! Your calm and cheerful friendship for me

isn't love!"

"Oh. What else is it, please?"

He kissed her on the mouth. She suffered his lips again without

flinching, then drew back laughingly to avoid him.

"Why are you becoming so very demonstrative?" she asked. "If you are

not careful it will become a horrid habit with you."

"Does it mean nothing more than a habit to you?" he asked,

unsmilingly.

"It means that I care enough for you to let you do it more than once,

doesn't it?"

He shrugged and turned his face toward the window: "And you believe that you love me," he said, sullenly and partly to

himself.

"You amazingly sulky man, what are you muttering to yourself?" she

demanded, bending forward and across his shoulder to see his face

which was still turned from her. He swung about and caught her

fiercely in his arms; and the embrace left her breathless and flushed.

"Clive--please--"

"Can't you care for me! For God's sake show it if you can!"




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