Man and Maid

"Yes. I scrambled through them all myself while I was waiting, but if

you will look over the book again, we might finally send it to a

publisher."

"Very well."

"I don't want you to feel that you have ever to stay in or do any work

you don't feel inclined for. We shall have lots of time, for the rest of

our lives. No doubt to-morrow you would wish to spend with your mother,

if she is going away."

"I said good-bye to her this morning. There is no need for me to go

back. I came prepared to stay. Unless of course you would rather be

alone, then I can go out for a walk." This last with a peculiar tone in

the words.

"Naturally you will want to go for walks, and drives, and shopping. You

don't imagine that I shall expect you to be a prisoner, just waiting on

my beck and call!"

"Yes, that is how I took the bargain. It is quite unfair otherwise. I am

here as a paid dependant and receiving really too high wages for any

possible work I can give in return. I would not have entered into it

otherwise or on any other terms. I loathe to receive favors."

"Madame Lucifer!"

She flashed blue sparks at me!

"I am not forced to command you to work you know," I went on "that is

not part of the bargain, the bargain is entirely concerned with my not

asking you to give me any favors, personal favors, like affection, or

caresses, etcetera, or that I shall ever expect you to be really my

wife."

She frowned.

"Well, you may put your mind entirely at rest, you have been so awfully

disagreeable to me for so long, ever since we were at Versailles in the

summer, that you don't attract me at all now, except your intellect and

your playing. So if you will talk sometimes and play sometimes, that

will be all right. I don't desire anything else. Now, assured about

this, can't you be at ease and restful again?"

I know why she wore glasses. She cannot control the expression of her

eyes! The pupils dilate and contract and tell one wonderful things! I

know that this attitude of mine is having a powerful effect upon her,

the feminine in her hates to feel that she has lost power over me--even

over my senses. I could have laughed aloud, I was so pleased with my

success, but I did not dare to look at her much, or I could never have

kept the game up. She was more delectable than I can ever describe.