_do_ you remember that dreadful blow I gave you when we were
sparring in the library? _Did_ it hurt you, my darling--I was sure it
did, but you never would admit it. Tell me now," she coaxed, adorable in
her penitence.

"Well--yes, it did." He laughed under his breath--"I don't mind telling
you now that it fractured the bridge of my nose."

"What!"--in horror. "That perfectly delicious straight nose of yours!"

"Oh, I had it fixed," he said, laughing. "If you deal me no more vital
blows than that I'll never mind----"

"I--deal you a--a blow, Duane! _I_!"

"For instance, by not marrying me right away----"

"Dear--I can't."

The smile had died out in her eyes and on her lips.

"You know I can't, don't you?" she said tenderly. "You know I've got to
be fair to you." Her face grew graver. "Dear--when I stop and try to
think--it dismays me to understand how much in love with you I am....
Because it is too soon.... It would be safer to wait before I start to
love you--this way. There is a cowardly streak in me--a weak
streak----"

"What blessed nonsense you do talk, don't you?"

"No, dear."

She moved slightly toward him, settling close, as though within the
circle of his arms lay some occult protection.

For a while she lay very close to him, her pale face pressed against his
shoulder, brown eyes remote. Neither spoke. After a long time she laid
her hands on his arms, gently disengaging them, and, freeing herself,
sprang to her feet. A new, lithe and lovely dignity seemed to possess
her--an exquisite, graceful, indefinable something which lent a hint of
splendour to her as she turned and looked down at him.

Then, mischievously tender, she stooped and touched her childish mouth
to his--her cheek, her throat, her hair, her lids, her hands, in turn
all brushed his lips with fragrance--the very ghost of contact, the
exquisite mockery of caress.

"If you don't go at once," she murmured, "I'll never let you go at all.
Wait--let me see if anybody is in the corridor----"

She opened the door and looked out.

"Not a soul," she whispered, "our reputations are still intact.
Good-bye--I'll put on a fresh gown and meet you in ten minutes!...
Where? Oh, anywhere--_anywhere_, Duane. The Lake. Oh, that is too far
away! Wait here on the stairs for me--that isn't so far away--just sit
on the stairs until I come. Do you promise? _Truly_? Oh, you angel
boy!... Yes--but only one more, then--to be quite sure that you won't
f