so much deeper. Where indeed could he have
supposed she wanted to come out, and what that she could ever do for
him would really be so beautiful as this present chance to smooth his
confusion and add as much as possible to that refined satisfaction with
himself which would proceed from his having dealt with a difficult hour
in a gallant and delicate way? To force upon him an awkwardness was
like forcing a disfigurement or a hurt, so that at the end of a minute,
during which the expression of her face became a kind of uplifted view
of her opportunity, she arrived at the appearance of having changed
places with him and of their being together precisely in order that
he--not she--should be let down easily.

II

"But surely you're not going already?" she asked. "Why in the world then
do you suppose I appealed to you?"

"Bless me, no; I've lots of time." He dropped, laughing for very
eagerness, straight into another chair. "You're too awfully interesting.
Is it really an 'appeal'?" Putting the question indeed he could scarce
even yet allow her a chance to answer it. "It's only that you make me
a little nervous with your account of all the people who are going to
tumble in. And there's one thing more," he quickly went on; "I just want
to make the point in case we should be interrupted. The whole fun is in
seeing you this way alone."

"Is THAT the point?" Nanda, as he took breath, gravely asked.

"That's a part of it--I feel it, I assure you, to be charming. But what
I meant--if you'd only give me time, you know, to put in a word--is what
for that matter I've already told you: that it almost spoils my pleasure
for you to keep reminding me that a bit of luck like this--luck for ME:
I see you coming!--is after all for you but a question of business. Hang
business! Good--don't stab me with that paper-knife. I listen. What IS
the great affair?" Then as it looked for an instant as if the words she
had prepared were just, in the supreme pinch of her need, falling apart,
he once more tried his advantage. "Oh if there's any difficulty about it
let it go--we'll take it for granted. There's one thing at any rate--do
let me say this--that I SHOULD like you to keep before me: I want before
I go to make you light up for me the question of little Aggie. Oh there
are other questions too as to which I regard you as a perfect fountain
of curious knowledge! However, we'll take them one by one--the next some
other time. You always seem