it had
broken rudely into her shy dreams to scatter them far away and bring
her back to reality. But she returned his second salutation with all of
her young soul. Then she sprang up from the sofa, gently disengaging
herself from the arm he had half slipped around her.

"Now, you mustn't kiss me any more," she said, with a quaint air of
authority.

Mr. Bennet was somewhat startled by this, himself; and then rather
amused. He had hardly intended to do so again, being a trifle ashamed
of himself already, but Arethusa's reasons for anything were always
original.

"Why not?" he enquired.

"Because...." She blushed deeply, rosy-red.

"Because what?"

"Because...." She looked down for just a moment, then raised her head
with an adorable air of dignity most becoming, "you mustn't kiss me any
more until after we're married. Aunt 'Liza always says a girl mustn't!"

"Married!" The thoroughly startled Mr. Bennet sank backward on the pink
sofa. "Why...."

"Yes," repeated Arethusa. Then something in his expression suddenly
frightened her; her face went chalk white. "Why.... Why did you....
Didn't you...."

"I think you've misunderstood me," began Mr. Bennet, gently, "I didn't
mean...." Then he stopped awkwardly. For once in his life the Wonderful
Mr. Bennet was at an utter loss for the words with which to continue a
conversation with a lady.

"You ki ... kissed me," said Arethusa.

But Mr. Bennet made no reply. It was a Fact which it was unnecessary
to confirm, and could not be denied.

"And di ... didn't you ... you mean," she continued slowly, "that you
wanted to marry me?" She brought each word of this question out with
difficulty. "I thought me ... men never kissed girls that way unless
they wanted to marry them?" This last was also an interrogation.

"No," replied Mr. Bennet, uncomfortably, "not necessarily."

She began backing away from him, her eyes fixed upon him, wide with a
sort of horror.

"My dear child...."

"I'm not your dear child!" Arethusa was suddenly so angry that she
trembled with rage from head to foot. "Don't come anywhere near me,"
she exploded, as Mr. Bennet started towards her.

She stuck her hands straight out in front of her as if to push him
away, and Mr. Bennet stopped short where he was.

"If you'll let me explain," he said, "I think I can. I didn't.... That
is, I'm just as sorry as I can be. And I really didn't mean a single
thing!" But this was a very wrong beginning.

It ma