ame?"

"Pasquale," said Carlotta.

"Pasquale?"

"Yes, he likes to hear me say 'dam.' Oh, the other? Oh, no, he is too
stupid. He does not say anything. His name is Timkins. I only play with
him. He is so funny. He can go and kill himself; I won't care."

"Never mind about Timkins," said I, "I want to hear about Pasquale. When
did he teach you that wicked, wicked word?"

I think Carlotta flushed as she regarded the point of her red slipper.

"I went for a walk and he met me at the corner and walked here by my
side. Was that wicked?"

"What would the excellent Hamdi Effendi have said to it?"

Woman-like she evaded my question.

"I hope Hamdi is dead. Do you think so?"

"I hope not. For if you behave in this naughty manner, I shall have to
send you back to him."

She had imperceptibly moved nearer my chair until she stood quite close
to my side, so that as I spoke the last words I looked up into her face.
She put her arm about my shoulders. It is one of her pretty, caressing
ways.

"I will be good--very good," she said.

"You will have to," said I, leaning back my head.

She must have caught a relenting note in my voice; for what happened I
feel even now a curious shame in noting down. Her other arm flew under
my chin to join its fellow, and holding me a prisoner in my chair, she
bent down and kissed me. She also laid her cheek against mine.

I am still aware of the indescribable, soft, warm pressure, although she
has gone to bed hours ago.

I vow that a man must be less a man than a petrified egg to have
repulsed her. The touch of her lips was like the falling of dewy
rose-petals. Her breath was as fragrant as new-mown hay. Her hair
brushing my forehead had the odour of violets.

I sent her back to Miss Griggs. She ran out of the room laughing
merrily. She has received plenary absolution for her shameless coquetry
and her profane language. Worse than that she has discovered how to
obtain it in future. The witch has found her witchcraft, and having once
triumphantly exerted her powers, will take the earliest opportunity of
doing so again. I am fallen, both in my own eyes and hers, from my
high estate. Henceforward she will regard me only with good-humoured
tolerance; I shall be to her but a non-felonious Timkins.

I was an idiot to have kissed her in return.

I have not seen her since. I lunched at the club, and paid a formal call
on Mrs. Ralph Ordeyne and my cousin Rosalie, in their sunless hou