"You see," she said, "that gives me a modest income. I could live here

very nicely. It has always been my dream.... But of course everything

now depends on where you are."

Surprised and touched he turned toward her: she flushed and smiled,

suddenly realising the naivete of her avowal.

"It's true," she said. "Every day I seem to become more and more

entangled with you. I'm wondering whether I've already crossed the

bounds of friendship, and how far I am outside. I can't seem to

realise any longer that there is no bond between us stronger than

preference.... I was thinking--very unusual and very curious

thoughts--about us both." She drew a deep, unsteady, but smiling,

breath: "Clive, I wish you could marry me."

"You wish it, Athalie?" he asked, profoundly moved.

"Yes."

After a silence she leaned over and rested her cheek against his

shoulder.

"Ah, yes," she said under her breath,--"that is what I begin to wish

for. A home, and you.... And--children."

He put his arm around her.

"Isn't it strange, Clive, that I should think about children--at my

age--and with little chance of ever having any. I don't know what

possesses me to suddenly want them.... Wouldn't they be wonderful in

that house? And they'd have that darling garden to play in.... There

ought to be a boy--several in fact, and some girls.... I'd know what

to do for them. Isn't it odd that I should know exactly how to bring

them up. But I do. I know I do.... I can almost see them playing in

the garden--I can see their dear little faces--hear their voices--"

His arm was clasping her slim body very tightly, but she suddenly sat

upright, resting one slender hand on his shoulder; and her gaze became

steady and fixed.

Presently he noticed it and turned his head in the same direction, but

saw nothing except the sunlight sifting through the trees and the

golden half-light of the woods beyond.

"What is it, Athalie?" he asked.

She said in a curiously still voice: "Children."

"Where?"

"Playing in the woods."

"Where?" he repeated; "I do not see them."

She did not answer. Presently she closed her eyes and rested her face

against his shoulder again, pressing close to him as though lonely.

"They went away," she said in answer to his question.... "I feel a

little tired, Clive.... Do you care for me a great deal?"




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