Strange that she should be ashamed of her own innocence, willing that he believe her accomplished in such arts, enchanted that he no longer perhaps suspected genuine emotion in the swift, confused sweetness of her first kiss.

If only all that were truly hidden from him, if he dare not in his heart convict her of anything save perfection in a gay, imprudent role, what a weight lifted, what relief, what hot self-contempt cooled! What vengeance, too, she would take on him for the agony of her awakening--the dazed chagrin, the dread of his wise, amused eyes--eyes that she feared had often looked upon such scenes; eyes no doubt familiar with such unimportant details as the shamed demeanour of a novice.
"Why do you take it so seriously ?" she said, laughing and studying him, certain now of herself in this new disguise.
"Do you take it lightly ?" he asked, striving to smile.
"I?
Ah, I must, you know.

You don't expect to marry me ...

do you, Mr.
Siward ?" "I--" He choked up at that, grimly for a while.
Walking slowly forward together she fell into step frankly beside him, near him--too near.

"Try to be sensible," she was saying gaily; "I like you so much--and it would be horrid to have you mope, you know.