"She was ready to leave us
because she had to be. From the moment the Prince wanted it she could
only go with him."

"Perfectly--so that, if you see your way, she will be able to 'go with
him' in future as much as she likes."

Charlotte appeared to examine for a minute, in Maggie's interest,
this privilege--the result of which was a limited concession. "You've
certainly worked it out!"

"Of course I've worked it out--that's exactly what I HAVE done. She
hadn't for a long time been so happy about anything as at your being
there with me."

"I was to be with you," said Charlotte, "for her security."

"Well," Adam Verver rang out, "this IS her security. You've only, if you
can't see it, to ask her."

"'Ask' her?"--the girl echoed it in wonder. "Certainly--in so many
words. Telling her you don't believe me."

Still she debated. "Do you mean write it to her?"

"Quite so. Immediately. To-morrow."

"Oh, I don't think I can write it," said Charlotte Stant. "When I write
to her"--and she looked amused for so different a shade--"it's about
the Principino's appetite and Dr. Brady's visits."

"Very good then--put it to her face to face. We'll go straight to Paris
to meet them."

Charlotte, at this, rose with a movement that was like a small cry; but
her unspoken sense lost itself while she stood with her eyes on him--he
keeping his seat as for the help it gave him, a little, to make his
appeal go up. Presently, however, a new sense had come to her, and she
covered him, kindly, with the expression of it. "I do think, you know,
you must rather 'like' me."

"Thank you," said Adam Verver. "You WILL put it to her yourself then?"

She had another hesitation. "We go over, you say, to meet them?"

"As soon as we can get back to Fawns. And wait there for them, if
necessary, till they come."

"Wait--a--at Fawns?"

"Wait in Paris. That will be charming in itself."

"You take me to pleasant places." She turned it over. "You propose to me
beautiful things."

"It rests but with you to make them beautiful and pleasant. You've made
Brighton--!"

"Ah!"--she almost tenderly protested. "With what I'm doing now?"

"You're promising me now what I want. Aren't you promising me," he
pressed, getting up, "aren't you promising me to abide by what Maggie
says?"

Oh, she wanted to be sure she was. "Do you mean she'll ASK it of me?"

It gave him indeed, as by communication, a sense of the propriety of
being himself certain. Yet w