o Zurich Monday, and you're
going to stay here all summer; we shall never meet again, so what is the
use of thinking so long over nothing!"

Then he put his hand up, gave his moustache ends a twist, and turned to
walk on. He was still on the same side, and there was a sort of
emphasis about his being there which made her want to laugh, even while
she recognized the fact that the under-current of the minute was a
strong one--stronger perhaps than she was understanding just then.

"You don't feel altogether positive as to your summer plans, I see?" she
queried, with a little glance of fun.

"I never am positive," he said, almost grimly. "I will never bind myself
even by a thread. I must go free; no one must think to hold me."

"I'm sure I don't want to hold you," she laughed; "I think you are
dreadfully rude, but of course you can do what you please."

"You find me rude?" he asked soberly.

"Yes, indeed, I think you are very rude. Here we are still on the first
day of our acquaintance, and you refuse absolutely to grant me such a
trifling request."

They had continued to follow the stone dalles of the embankment and were
now near the end of the Quai; he stopped short again, and again stared
at the mountains.

"Ask me what you will," he said, after a moment's pause, "and you shall
have it; but to that first most absurd asking I shall always refuse."

Her eyes began to dance.

"If I asked you to buy me an automobile!" she ventured.

He glanced at her quickly.

"Do you ask me for an automobile?" he demanded.

Her eyes wandered towards a certain shop on the other side of the
carriage way.

"If I asked you for that necklace in the window there!"

He raised his shoulders slightly.

"Ladies prefer to buy their own necklaces," he said briefly.

She gave him a furtive look out of the corner of her eye.

"Monsieur, suppose I beg you to take me back to the hotel and henceforth
never speak to me!"

He did not appear in the slightest degree alarmed. Instead he put his
hand beneath her arm and turned her for another round of promenade.

"I think the automobile will be best," he said tranquilly. "I will find
you a good chauffeur, and you can go to Zurich on its wheels."

"I only said 'if,' you know," she murmured.

"Yes, I know," he replied; "but an automobile is always useful." He
thought a moment and then added, "About how much will you choose to pay
for it?"

In spite of herself she started and stared at