"Oh, I am indeed. And you must let me kiss you for this darling ring. I know you hate me to kiss you—but," she flings her arms round him, "I really must do it now."
Instinctively his arms close round her. With a thoroughly astonished air, however, she wriggles herself free, and draws back from him.
"You have done your part beautifully," says she, with a little soft grimace. "You bore up wonderfully. I'll let you off next time as a consideration."
"I don't want to be let off," says Rylton.
"There, that will do," lifting her hand. "And I am sorry—remember that."
"If you are," says he, "you will promise me—not to——"
He has grown quite serious again. He hardly knows how to put it into words, and therefore hesitates; but if only she will cease from her encouragement of her cousin——
"Oh no—never. I shall never do it again," says she earnestly. "It was so—so—dreadful of me——"
"If you see it now, I wonder you didn't see it then," says Rylton, a little stiffly; this sudden conversion brings all the past back to him.
"Well, but I didn't see it then—I always talk too fast."