of his absolute security.
The colour came again to her cheek, a little hotly, and though there
was a slight tremor in her voice when she spoke, yet her eyes flashed
beneath the drooping lids.

"Are you sure it would be safe?" she asked.

"For you, of course there can be no danger possible," he said, in
perfect simplicity of good faith. "For me--well, I have said it. I
cannot imagine love coming near me in any shape, by degrees or unawares.
It is a strange defect in my nature, but I am glad of it since it makes
this pleasant life possible."

"And why should you suppose that there is no danger for me?" asked
Unorna, with a quick glance and a silvery laugh. She was recovering her
self-possession.

"For you? Why should there be? How could there be? No woman ever loved
me, then why should you? Besides--there are a thousand reasons, one
better than the other."

"I confess I would be glad to hear a few of them, my friend. You were
good enough just now to call me young and beautiful. You are young too,
and certainly not repulsive in appearance. You are gifted, you have led
an interesting life--indeed, I cannot help laughing when I think how
many reasons there are for my falling in love with you. But you are very
reassuring, you tell me there is no danger. I am willing to believe."

"It is safe to do that," answered the Wanderer with a smile, "unless you
can find at least one reason far stronger than those you give. Young
and passably good-looking men are not rare, and as for men of genius who
have led interesting lives, many thousands have been pointed out to me.
Then why, by any conceivable chance, should your choice fall on me?"

"Perhaps because I am so fond of you already," said Unorna, looking away
lest her eyes should betray what was so far beyond fondness. "They say
that the most enduring passions are either born in a single instant,
or are the result of a treacherously increasing liking. Take the latter
case. Why is it impossible, for you or for me? We are slipping from mere
liking into friendship, and for all I know we may some day fall headlong
from friendship into love. It would be very foolish no doubt, but it
seems to me quite possible. Do you not see it?"

The Wanderer laughed lightly. It was years since he had laughed, until
this friendship had begun.

"What can I say?" he asked. "If you, the woman, acknowledge yourself
vulnerable, how can I, the man, be so discourteous as to assure you that
I am proo