Ramon? No? Well, Good night." And he retired whistling in a way
which showed his irritation more plainly than if he had sworn.

The two impolite ones sat silent for a long moment. Ramon was trying to
think of what he wanted to say and how he wanted to say it. Finally
without looking at her he said in a low husky voice.

"You know {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I love you."

There was more silence. At last he looked up and met her eyes. They were
serious for the first time in his experience, and so was her usually
mocking little mouth. Her face was transformed and dignified. More than
ever she seemed a strange, high being. And yet he knew that now she was
within his reach.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} That he could kiss her lips {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} incredible.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} And yet he
did, and the kiss poured flame over them and welded them into each others'
arms.

They heard Gordon Roth in the house coughing, the cough coming closer.

She pushed him gently away.

"Go now," she whispered. "I love you {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Ramon."

CHAPTER X

His conquest was far from giving him peace. Her kiss had transformed his
high vague yearning into hot relentless desire. He wanted her. That became
the one clear thing in life to him. Reflections and doubts were alien to
his young and primitive spirit. He did not try to look far into the
future. He only knew that to have her would be delight almost unimaginable
and to lose her would be to lose everything.

His attitude toward her changed. He claimed her more and more at dances.
She did not want to dance with him so much because "people would talk,"
but his will was harder than hers and to a great extent he had his way. He
now called on her regularly too. He knew that she had fought hard for him
against her family, and had won the privilege for him of calling "not too
often."

"I've lied for you frightfully," she confessed. "I told them I didn't
really care for you in the least, but I want to see you because you can
tell such wonderful things about the country. So talk about the country
whenever they're listening. And don't look at me the way you do.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"

Mother and brother were alert and suspicious despite her assurance, and
manoeuvred with cool skill to keep the pair from being alone. Only rarely
did he get the chance to kiss her--once when her brother, who was standing
guard over the family treasure, was sei