was with her, she saw that, as he answered: "I
must get this finished."

"To-night?"

"If I can. You know well enough, Lulu, when I'm in the swing----"

"Yes, yes, I know. If only it wouldn't always come, just when I want
you most."

Her face lost its brightness; she rose from his knee and roamed about
the room, watched from the wall by her pictured self.

"But is there ever a moment in the day when you don't want me? You are
never satisfied." He spoke abstractedly, without interest in the answer
she might make, and, relieved of her weight, leant forward again, while
his fingers played some notes on the table. But when she began to let
her hands stray over the loose papers and other articles that
encumbered chairs, piano and washstand, he raised his head and watched
her with a sharp eye.

"For goodness' sake, let those things alone, can't you?" he said after
he had borne her fidgeting for some time.

"You have no secrets from me, I suppose?" She said it with her
tenderest smile, but he scowled so darkly in reply that she went over
to him again, to touch him with her hand. Standing behind him, with her
fingers in his hair, she said: "Just to-day I wanted you so much. This
morning I was so depressed that I could have killed myself."

He turned his head, to give her a significant glance.

"Good reason for the blues, Lulu. I warned you. You want too much of
everything. And can't expect to escape a KATER."

"Too much?" she echoed, quick to resent his words. "Does it seem so to
you? Would days and days of happiness be too much after we have been
separated for a week?--after Wednesday night?--after what you said to
me yesterday?"

"Yesterday I was in the devil of a temper. Why rake up old scores? Now
go home. Or at least keep quiet, and let me get something done."

He shook his head free of her caressing hand, and, worse still,
scratched the place where it had lain. She stood irresolute, not
venturing to touch him again, looking hungrily at him. Her eyes fell on
the piece of neck, smooth, lightly browned, that showed between his
hair and the low collar; and, in an uncontrollable rush of feeling, she
stooped and kissed it. As he accepted the caress, without demur, she
said: "I thought of going to the theatre to-night, dear."

He was pleased and showed it. "That's right--it's just what you need to
cheer you up."

"But I want you to come, too."

He struck the table with his fist. "Good God, can't you get it int