He said in a low voice, almost to himself:

"I want you to think well of me."

She gathered all her composure, steadied her senses to choose a

reply, and made a blunder:

"Do you really care what I think?" she asked lightly, and bit her

lip too late.

"Do you believe I care about anything else in the world--now?"

She went on bravely, blindly:

"And do you expect me to believe in--in such an exaggerated and

romantic expression to a staid and matter-of-fact widow whom you

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never saw more than once in your life?"

"You do believe it."

Confused, scarcely knowing what she was saying, she still attempted

to make light of his words, holding her own against herself for the

moment, making even some headway. And all the while she was aware

of mounting emotion--a swift inexplicable charm falling over them

both.

He had become silent again, and she was saying she knew not

what--fortifying her common-sense with gay inconsequences, when he

looked up straight into her eyes.

"I have distressed you. I should not have spoken as I did."

"No, you should not----"

"Have I offended you?"

"I--don't know."

Matters were running too swiftly for her; she strove to remain

cool, collected, but confusion was steadily threatening her, and

neither resentment nor indifference appeared as allies.

"Mrs. Paige, can you account for--that night? The moment I touched

you----"

She half rose, sank back into her seat, her startled eyes meeting

his.

"I--don't know what you mean."

"Yes--you know."

Flushed, voices unsteady, they no longer recognised themselves.

"You have never seen me but once," she said. "You cannot

believe----"

"I have not known a moment's peace since I first saw you."

She caught her breath. "It is your business worries that torment

you----"

"It is desire to be near you."

"I don't think you had better say such a thing----"

"I know I had better not. But it is said, and it is true. I'm not

trying to explain it to you or to myself. It's just true. There

has not been one moment, since I saw you, which has been free from

memory of you----"

"Please----"

"I scarcely know what I am saying--but it's true!" He checked

himself. "I'm losing my head now, which isn't like me!" He choked

and stood up; she could not move; every nerve in her had become

tense with emotions so bewildering that mind and body remained

fettered.




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