Park Lane is now reached, the servants are in the hall to welcome their mistress, when the house-keeper says:
"If it will suit your ladyship, dinner will be served in twenty minutes or half an hour."
"Say half an hour, Grimes."
"Surely you can stay and dine with us, Lionel?" said his friend.
"You know, dear Lady Alice, how much I would wish it, but I must be off in less than half an hour."
Whereupon remembering the "Golden Rule," saying she would go and talk with the housekeeper, and so again these two who feel such completeness in each other, such fulness of satisfaction, such an ecstasy of love, are alone in the sweetest of solitude, dual solitude, and in silence, save for the deep full heart-beats.
"Let me take off your jacket, my own darling."
"I can, dear Lionel; you look too tired to do anything but rest."
But he does as he wills, the jacket of seal, and bonnet of velvet are off, the long tan gloves laid aside, the fluffy hair is caressed, a strong arm is about her, the perfect shaped head is again on his chest, and the sweet mouth and warm eyes are kissed rapturously.
"Rest; yes, love, I want rest, and can only rest so, with you in my arms; away from you I am nervous and agitated, afraid lest some one take you from me; my life, my love, oh! darling, darling, you don't know how dependent I am on you; on your love, your sympathy; you have not told me and I long to hear you say so; tell me if you love me, darling."