The change was so surprising that she had been on the point of asking him whether anything dreadful had happened; but just then Lady Maud had come up with them.
They walked a little way now, and when the others were out of sight Margaret sat down on one of the many boulders that strewed the park.
Her companion stood before her, and while he lit a cigarette she surveyed him deliberately from head to foot.

Her fresh lips twitched as they did when she was near laughing, and she looked up and met his eyes.
'What in the world has happened to you since yesterday ?' she asked in a tone of lazy amusement.

'You look almost like a human being!' 'Do I ?' he asked, between two small puffs of smoke, and he laughed a little.
'Yes.

Are you in mourning for your lost illusions ?' 'No.

I'm trying "to create and foster agreeable illusions" in you.
That's the object of all art, you know.' 'Oh! It's for me, then?
Really ?' 'Yes.