ted herself with keeping him
seated on a cushion at her feet. It was not till the next morning
that she ventured to say: 'Why do you shut yourself up here? It is so
pleasant under the trees.'

He rose from her feet, and stretched out his arms entreatingly. But she
laughed at him.

'Well, well, then, we won't go out, since you would rather not....
But this room has such a strange scent, and we should be much more
comfortable in the garden. It is very wrong of you to have taken such a
dislike to it.'

He had again settled himself at her feet in silence, his eyelids
lowered, his features quivering with passionate emotion.

'We won't go out,' she repeated, 'so don't worry. But do you really
prefer these pictures to the grass and flowers in the park? Do you
remember all we saw together? It is these paintings which make us feel
so unhappy. They are a nuisance, always looking and watching us as they
do.'

As Serge gradually leant more closely against her, she passed her arm
round his neck and laid his head upon her lap, while murmuring in yet a
lower tone: 'There is a little corner there I know, where we might be
so very happy. Nothing would trouble us there; the fresh air would cool
your feverishness.'

Then she stopped, as she felt him quivering. She was afraid lest she
might again revive his old fears. But she gradually conquered him merely
by the caressing gaze of her blue eyes. His eyelids were now raised, and
he rested there quietly, wholly hers, his tremor past.

'Ah! if you only knew!' she softly breathed; and seeing that he
continued to smile, she went on boldly: 'It is all a lie; it is not
forbidden. You are a man now and ought not to be afraid. If we went
there, and any danger threatened me, you would protect me, you would
defend me, would you not? You could carry me off on your back, couldn't
you? I am never the least afraid when I have you with me. Look how
strong your arms have grown. What is there for any one with such strong
arms as yours to be afraid of?'

She caressed him beguilingly as she spoke, stroking his hair and neck
and shoulders with her hand.

'No, it is not forbidden,' she resumed. 'That is only a story for
stupids, and was invented, long ago, by some one who didn't want to be
disturbed in the most charming spot in the whole garden. As soon as
you sat down on that grassy carpet, you would be happy and well again.
Listen, then, come with me.'

He shook his head but without any sign of