f them all is the great enigma."

"He's off," she derided slangily.

"And that enigma is the complex YOU I want to learn. Of course you're a
specialized type, a product of artistic hothouse propagation. You're
so exquisite in your fastidiousness that to be near you is a luxury.
Simplicity and you have not a bowing acquaintance. One looks to see your
most casual act freighted with intentions not obvious."

"The poor man thinks I invited him here to propose to him," she told the
fire gravely, stretching out her little slippered feet toward it.

He laughed. "I'm not so presumptuous. You wouldn't aim at such small
game. You would be quite capable of it if you wanted to, but you don't.
But I'm devoured with curiosity to know why you asked me, though of
course I shan't find out."

Her narrowed eyes swept him with amusement. "If I knew myself! Alice
says it was to make a fool of you. I don't think she is right. But
if she is I'm in to score a failure. You're too coolheaded and--" She
stopped, her eyes sparkling with the daring of her unvoiced suggestion.

"Say it," he nodded.

"--and selfish to be anybody's fool. Perhaps I asked you just in the
hope you might prove interesting."

He got up and stood with his arm on the mantel. From his superior height
he looked down on her dainty insolent perfection, answering not too
seriously the challenge of her eyes. No matter what she meant--how much
or how little she was wonderfully attractive. The provocation of the
mocking little face lured mightily.

"I am going to prove interested at any rate. Let's hope it may be a
preliminary to being interesting."

"But it never does. Symptoms of too great interest bore one. I enjoy
more the men who are impervious to me. Now there's my father. He comes
nearer understanding me than anybody else, but he's quite adamantine to
my wiles."

"I shall order a suit of chain armor at once."

"An unnecessary expense. Your emotions are quite under control," she
told him saucily.

"I wish I were as sure."

"I thought you promised to be interesting," she complained.

"Now you're afraid I'm going to make love to you. Let me relieve your
mind. I'm not."

"I knew you wouldn't be so stupid," she assured him.

"No objection to my admiring your artistic effect at a distance, as a
spectator in a gallery?"

"I shall expect that," she rippled.

"Just as one does a picture too expensive to own."

"I suppose I AM expensive."

"Not a doubt of it