d in a discontented tone.
"Aren't you going to stay?"

"May not a lady wear her hat in her own house?"

"Oh, I see. Then I shan't have to butter your fingers?"

"Do you compare me to a stray cat?"

"I never compare you to anything."

Desire wanted terribly to ask why, but an unaccustomed shyness
prevented her. Instead she asked if Yorick were really the parrot's
name.

"I don't know. But he says it is, so I take his word for it. Do you
want to talk about parrots? Because it's not one of my best subjects.
May I change it?"

"If you like."

"Don't say, 'If you like,' say 'Right-o.' I always do when I think of
it. Since the war it is expected of one--a sign of this new fraternity,
you know, between Englishmen and Colonials. Everyone over there is
expected to say 'I guess' for the same reason. Only they don't do it.
How do you like your workroom?"

"Mine?"

"I thought you might not like me to say 'Ours.'"

"Don't be silly!"

"Well, how do you like it, anyway?"

Desire's eyes met his for an instant and then fell quickly. But not
before he had seen a mistiness which looked remarkably like--Good
heavens, he might have known that she would be tired and upset!

"You have noticed, of course," he went on lightly, "that we have
fireplaces? They are very dirty but they provide atmosphere. Almost too
much atmosphere sometimes. There are no dampers and when the wind blows
the wrong way--Oh, my dear child, do cry if you really feel like it."

"Cry!" indignantly. "I n--never cry."

"Well, try it for a change. I believe it is strongly recommended
and--don't go away. Please."

"I had no idea I was going to be silly," said Desire after a moment, in
an annoyed voice.

"It usually comes unexpectedly. Probably you are tired."

Desire wiped her eyes with businesslike thoroughness.

"No. I'm not. I'm suppressed. Do you remember what you said about
suppressed emotion the other day? Well, I'm like that, and it's your
fault. You bring me to this beautiful home and you never, never once,
allow me to thank you properly--oh, I'm not going to do it, so don't
look frightened. But one feels so safe here. Benis, it's years and
years since I felt just safe."

"I know. I swear every time I think of it"

"Then you can guess a little of what it means?"

Their hands were very close upon the window-sill.

"As a psychologist--" began the professor.

"Oh--No!" murmured Desire.

Their hands almost touched.

And just at that m