sidering him.

He took without external disturbance her gay, embarrassed suggestion,
the manner of which might mean either shyness or the highest expression
of her art.

"I'd kidnap you fast enough except that I don't want to rob you of the
fun of getting ready. How long will it take you? Would my birthday be
too soon? It's on the fourth of June."

"Too soon for what?" she asked innocently.

"For my birthday present--Valencia Powers."

She liked it that he used her maiden surname instead of her married one.
It seemed to imply that he loved her in the swift, ardent way of youth.

"Are you sure you want it?"

The lawyer appreciated her soft, warm allurement, the appeal of sex with
which she was so prodigally endowed. His breath came a little faster.

"He won't be happy till he gets it."

Her faint laughter rippled out. "That's just the point, my friend. Will
he be happy then? And, which is more important to her, will she?"

"That's what I'm here to see. I'm going to make you happy."

She laced her fingers behind her tawny head, not quite unaware perhaps
that the attitude set off the perfect modeling of her soft, supple body.

"I don't doubt your good intentions, but it takes more than that to make
marriage happy when the contracting parties are not Heaven-sent."

"But we are--we are."

Valencia shook her head. "Oh, no! There will be no rapturous song of
birds for us, none of that fine wantonness that doesn't stop to count
the cost. If we marry no doubt we'll have good reasons, but not the very
best one--that we can't help it."

He would not consent to that. "You're not speaking for me. The birds
sing, Valencia."

"Canaries in a cage," she mocked.

"You've forgotten two things."

"Yes?"

"That you are the most beautiful woman on earth, and that I'm a man,
with red blood in my veins."

Under lowered lids she studied him. This very confident, alert American,
modern from head to heel, attracted her more than any other man. There
was a dynamic quality in him that stirred her blood. He was efficient,
selfish enough to win, and yet considerate in the small things that go
to make up the sum of existence. Why not then? She must marry some time
and she was as nearly in love as she would ever be.

"What ARE your reasons for wanting me?"

"We smoke the same Egyptians," he mocked.

"That's a good reason, so far as it goes."

"And you're such a charming puzzle that I would like to domesticate it
and study