What shall I say ?" "Say I want you," he said, and suddenly that rare smile of his for which she had wholly ceased to look flashed across his face, "and tell the truth for once." She did not see him again till she entered the dining-room an hour later.

He was waiting for her there, and as she came in he presented her with a spray of lilies.
Again in astonishment she looked up at him.
"Don't you like them ?" he said.
"Of course I do.

But--but--" Her answer tailed off in confusion.

Her lip quivered uncontrollably, and she turned quickly away.
Caryl was plainly unaware of anything unusual in her demeanour.

He talked throughout dinner in his calm, effortless drawl, and gradually under its soothing influence she recovered herself.
She enjoyed the play that followed.