"She got her knife, as you call it, into everybody who was mentioned. Oh yes, including you!" Vivien laughed merrily.
"It's rather a bore—those girls coming down here. I hope we shan't see too much of them." He rose. "I'm afraid I must go, Vivien. We're due at Medfold Crossways to-night, and it's a good long drive, even with the motor. I've got to have some abominable hybrid of a meal at five."
She too rose and came to him, putting her hands in his. Her laughing face grew grave and tender.
"Dear, you really are happy?" she asked softly, yet rather insistently.
He looked into her eyes; they were not veiled or remote for him. "Honestly I believe you're the only chance of happiness I've got in the world, Vivien. Is that enough?"
"I think it's really more than being happy, or than being sure you will be happy." She smiled. "It gives me more to do, at all events."
"And if I made you unhappy?"
"Don't be hurt, please don't be hurt, but just a little of that wouldn't surprise me. Oh, my dear, you don't think I should change to you just because of a little unhappiness? When you've given me all the happiness I've ever had!"
"All you've ever had? Poor child!"
"It wasn't quite loyal to let that slip out. And it was my own fault, of course, mostly. But they—they were sometimes rather hard on me." She smiled piteously. "For my good? Perhaps it was. Without it, you mightn't have cared for me."