e to myself
to-day! And to think that you really care for me!" and so on.

And she would enjoy writing back:--

"Dearest,--Didn't we have a heavenly time in the garden yesterday?" and
so forth.

* * * * *

As a matter of fact, they had not had a heavenly time at all; when he
kissed her, which he sometimes did, she did not really like it, though
she knew she ought, and it gave her a sort of mental gratification to
think that he _had_ given this manifestation of love, as she knew it was
considered the right thing.

He did not really regard her as a woman at all, but more as a lovely
doll, or sweet companion, and it pleased his vanity immensely to think
he should be allowed this privilege, which at the same time seemed to
him a little unnecessary, and even derogatory to her, though he enjoyed
it very much too, in a somewhat uncomfortable way.

The fact that their engagement was so indefinite, that they had hardly
any hope of being married for at least two years, perhaps added a little
to the _gene_ of these meetings. The instant they were separated he
began to long to see her alone again. Daphne felt sure she must be
really in love because she took comparatively little interest in
anything that was not more or less connected with the idea of Cyril.
Perhaps she enjoyed the things she associated with him more than his
actual presence. Talking about him to Valentia, or hearing about him
from his mother, seemed more amusing and exciting than sitting with him
alone and holding his hand. She would have liked best never to see him
except in evening dress at a party, only to hear about him or think
about him all day.

Cyril was sure that his feeling was real love, because he did not care
two straws how hard up they should be when they were married, and
because if he heard any one sing a sentimental song, however badly, he
immediately thought of her with the greatest tenderness. He believed he
missed her every moment of the day, and he took great trouble to see
her, especially when there was a chance of their being alone. But, as a
matter of fact, he was rather glad when Mrs. Foster came out into the
garden; and when he had seen Daphne off at the station, although it was
a pang to see her go away without him, it was perhaps also a slight
relief.

When Val came to meet her at the station, full of news about the
extraordinary number of exciting things that had happened in the day,
and they dashed bac