"What is the matter with you?" asked Arobin that evening. "I never
found you in such a happy mood." Edna was tired by that time, and was
reclining on the lounge before the fire.
"Don't you know the weather prophet has told us we shall see the sun
pretty soon?"
"Well, that ought to be reason enough," he acquiesced. "You wouldn't
give me another if I sat here all night imploring you." He sat close to
her on a low tabouret, and as he spoke his fingers lightly touched the
hair that fell a little over her forehead. She liked the touch of his
fingers through her hair, and closed her eyes sensitively.
"One of these days," she said, "I'm going to pull myself together for a
while and think--try to determine what character of a woman I am; for,
candidly, I don't know. By all the codes which I am acquainted with,
I am a devilishly wicked specimen of the sex. But some way I can't
convince myself that I am. I must think about it."
"Don't. What's the use? Why should you bother thinking about it when
I can tell you what manner of woman you are." His fingers strayed
occasionally down to her warm, smooth cheeks and firm chin, which was
growing a little full and double.
"Oh, yes! You will tell me that I am adorable; everything that is
captivating. Spare yourself the effort."
"No; I shan't tell you anything of the sort, though I shouldn't be lying
if I did."
"Do you know Mademoiselle Reisz?" she asked irrelevantly.
"The pianist? I know her by sight. I've heard her play."
"She says queer things sometimes in a bantering way that you don't
notice at the time and you find yourself thinking about afterward."
"For instance?"
"Well, for instance, when I left her to-day, she put her arms around me
and felt my shoulder blades, to see if my wings were strong, she
said. 'The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition
and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the
weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth.' Whither would
you soar?"
"I'm not thinking of any extraordinary flights. I only half comprehend
her."
"I've heard she's partially demented," said Arobin.
"She seems to me wonderfully sane," Edna replied.
"I'm told she's extremely disagreeable and unpleasant. Why have you
introduced her at a moment when I desired to talk of you?"
"Oh! talk of me if you like," cried Edna, clasping her hands beneath her
head; "but let me think of something else while you do."
"I'm jealous of your thoughts tonight. They're making you a little
kinder than usual; but some way I feel as if they were wandering, as if
they were not here with me." She only looked at him and smiled. His eyes
were very near. He leaned upon the lounge with an arm extended across
her, while the other hand still rested upon her hair. They continued
silently to look into each other's eyes. When he leaned forward and
kissed her, she clasped his head, holding his lips to hers.