make it sound what it wasn't? and wasn't
that exactly the beauty?

So she bravely and magnificently left it, and little by little she felt
him take it up, take it down, as if they had been on a satin sofa in a
boudoir. She had never seen a boudoir, but there had been lots of
boudoirs in the telegrams. What she had said at all events sank into
him, so that after a minute he simply made a movement that had the result
of placing his hand on her own--presently indeed that of her feeling
herself firmly enough grasped. There was no pressure she need return,
there was none she need decline; she just sat admirably still, satisfied
for the time with the surprise and bewilderment of the impression she
made on him. His agitation was even greater on the whole than she had at
first allowed for. "I say, you know, you mustn't think of leaving!" he
at last broke out.

"Of leaving Cocker's, you mean?"

"Yes, you must stay on there, whatever happens, and help a fellow."

She was silent a little, partly because it was so strange and exquisite
to feel him watch her as if it really mattered to him and he were almost
in suspense. "Then you _have_ quite recognised what I've tried to do?"
she asked.

"Why, wasn't that exactly what I dashed over from my door just now to
thank you for?"

"Yes; so you said."

"And don't you believe it?"

She looked down a moment at his hand, which continued to cover her own;
whereupon he presently drew it back, rather restlessly folding his arms.
Without answering his question she went on: "Have you ever spoken of me?"

"Spoken of you?"

"Of my being there--of my knowing, and that sort of thing."

"Oh never to a human creature!" he eagerly declared.

She had a small drop at this, which was expressed in another pause, and
she then returned to what he had just asked her. "Oh yes, I quite
believe you like it--my always being there and our taking things up so
familiarly and successfully: if not exactly where we left them," she
laughed, "almost always at least at an interesting point!" He was about
to say something in reply to this, but her friendly gaiety was quicker.
"You want a great many things in life, a great many comforts and helps
and luxuries--you want everything as pleasant as possible. Therefore, so
far as it's in the power of any particular person to contribute to all
that--" She had turned her face to him smiling, just thinking.

"Oh see here!" But he was highly amused. "Well,