le.

He laughed. "What, again?"

"Observe."

"Why, there is a break in it!" eagerly and joyously.

She leaned over. "So there is;" but there was no surprise in her voice.

"Is it possible for me to come through?"

"There is one way."

"Put the caskets before me, Portia; I shall not be less wise than
Bassanio."

She touched her lips with the knuckle of a finger, in a mood reflective.
"A camel and the needle's eye."

"That referred to the rich man. All the world loves a lover, even the
solemn old prophets."

"Are you sure?" a return of the old malice.

As a rejoinder he smoothed out the telegram she had sent to him. "Why
did you send this to me?"

Her lips had no answer ready; and who can read a woman's heart?

"There can be but one reason," he pursued.

"Friendship."

There was a swish of petticoats, and she was standing at the side of her
chair. The beginning of the night was cool, but the fire of the world's
desire burned in her cheeks, and she was afraid. She stepped to the
railing, faced the purpling mountains, lifted her chin, and sang _Die
Zauberfloete_. And Hillard dared not touch her till the last note was
gone. She felt his nearness, however, as surely as if he had in fact
touched her. She tried to sing again, but this time no sound issued from
her throat. There was something intangibly hypnotic in his gaze, for
presently, without will, she turned and tried to look coldly into his
eyes.

"I did not come here because of friendship," he said. "Only one thing
brought me--love and the hope of love."

She stared at him, her hand at her throat.

"Love and the hope of love," he repeated. Then he took her in his arms
suddenly, hungrily, even roughly. "You are mine, mine; and nothing in
the world shall take you from my arms again. Sonia?"

"Don't!" she cried breathlessly. "He is looking."

"It is only a waiter; he doesn't count. Friendship?" He laughed.

"Please!" still struggling.

"Not till you tell me why you sent that telegram."

She pressed her palms against him and stood away. She looked bravely
into his eyes now.

[Illustration: "Take me, and oh! be good and kind to me"]

"I sent it because I wanted you, because I am tired of lying to my
heart, because I have a right to be happy, because--because I love you!
Take me, and oh! be good and kind to me, for I have been very lonely and
unhappy.... Kiss me!" with a touch of the old imperiousness.

* * * *