knew even before she spoke that it would have been better not to have
prompted him to continue. Intuitively she had something more than a
suspicion that he had led her on to say these very words. And in
admitting that she cared to have the conversation proceed upon this
footing, she realised that she was sheering towards unequivocal
coquetry. She saw the false move now, knew that she had lowered her
guard. On all accounts it would have been more dignified to have shown
only a mild interest in what Corthell wished. She realised that once
more she had acted upon impulse, and she even found time to wonder
again how it was that when with this man her impulses, and not her
reason prevailed so often. With Landry or with Curtis Jadwin she was
always calm, tranquilly self-possessed. But Corthell seemed able to
reach all that was impetuous, all that was unreasoned in her nature. To
Landry she was more than anything else, an older sister, indulgent,
kind-hearted. With Jadwin she found that all the serious, all the
sincere, earnest side of her character was apt to come to the front.
But Corthell stirred troublous, unknown deeps in her, certain undefined
trends of recklessness; and for so long as he held her within his
influence, she could not forget her sex a single instant.

It dismayed her to have this strange personality of hers, this other
headstrong, impetuous self, discovered to her. She hardly recognised
it. It made her a little afraid; and yet, wonder of wonders, she could
not altogether dislike it. There was a certain fascination in resigning
herself for little instants to the dominion of this daring stranger
that was yet herself.

Meanwhile Corthell had answered her:

"I wish," he said, "I wish you could say something--I hardly know
what--something to me. So little would be so much."

"But what can I say?" she protested. "I don't know--I--what can I say?"

"It must be yes or no for me," he broke out. "I can't go on this way."

"But why not? Why not?" exclaimed Laura. "Why must we--terminate
anything? Why not let things go on just as they are? We are quite happy
as we are. There's never been a time of my life when I've been happier
than this last three or four months. I don't want to change anything.
Ah, here we are."

The hansom drew up in front of the house. Aunt Wess' and Page were
already inside. The maid stood in the vestibule in the light that
streamed from the half-open front door, an umbrella in her hand.