CHAPTER XVII.
In spite of this drop, if not just by reason of it, she felt as if Lady Bradeen, all but named out, had popped straight up; and she practically betrayed her consciousness by waiting a little before she rejoined: "Cleverer than who ?" "Well, if I wasn't afraid you'd think I swagger, I should say--than anybody! If you leave your place there, where shall you go ?" he more gravely asked.
"Oh too far for you ever to find me!" "I'd find you anywhere." The tone of this was so still more serious that she had but her one acknowledgement.

"I'd do anything for you--I'd do anything for you," she repeated.

She had already, she felt, said it all; so what did anything more, anything less, matter?
That was the very reason indeed why she could, with a lighter note, ease him generously of any awkwardness produced by solemnity, either his own or hers.

"Of course it must be nice for you to be able to think there are people all about who feel in such a way." In immediate appreciation of this, however, he only smoked without looking at her.

"But you don't want to give up your present work ?" he at last threw out.