The evening had thickened now; the scattered lamps were red; the Park, all before them, was full of obscure and ambiguous life; there were other couples on other benches whom it was impossible not to see, yet at whom it was impossible to look.

"But I've walked so much out of my way with you only just to show you that--that"-- with this she paused; it was not after all so easy to express--"that anything you may have thought is perfectly true." "Oh I've thought a tremendous lot!" her companion laughed.

"Do you mind my smoking ?" "Why should I?
You always smoke _there_." "At your place?
Oh yes, but here it's different." "No," she said as he lighted a cigarette, "that's just what it isn't.
It's quite the same." "Well, then, that's because 'there' it's so wonderful!" "Then you're conscious of how wonderful it is ?" she returned.
He jerked his handsome head in literal protest at a doubt.

"Why that's exactly what I mean by my gratitude for all your trouble.

It has been just as if you took a particular interest." She only looked at him by way of answer in such sudden headlong embarrassment, as she was quite aware, that while she remained silent he showed himself checked by her expression.