The girl stiffled a little yawn; then smiled up at him more brightly than before, motioning, as she did so, to the arm of the chair. “You have turned preacher, Jack,” she said. “Don’t do it any more, please; it’s so stupid. And don’t stand, either. There’s lots of room.”
He shook his head. There came into her eyes a gleam of something other than mirth, and as she spoke, she raised her voice a trifle. “Sit down, Jack,” she said again.
Carleton threw an anxious glance over his shoulder, and then, unwillingly enough, drew up to the table the only other chair in the room. Again the gleam flashed, far back in her eyes, and once more she tapped on the arm of the chair. “Sit here,”she said imperiously, and heedful, not of the words, but of the tone, he obeyed.
“Jack,” she murmured, “have I changed?”—Page [145]
At once her slender hand had stolen into his. “Look at me, Jack,” she commanded, and reluctantly enough he gazed down into the face that in the past had fascinated him beyond his strength. As if in a silent trial of their wills, her eyes held his, “Jack,” she murmured, “have I changed?”
Carleton’s teeth came together sharply; unconsciously the hand that held hers tightened so that she gave a little cry of pain, before it again relaxed. “No,” he muttered hoarsely, “only you’re prettier than ever, Jeanne.”
Her other hand crept upward until it rested on his shoulder; still her eyes were fixed on his, and still he did not look away. And then, “Ah, Jack,” she whispered, “you foolish boy! What did you think, anyway? That I thought you’d marry me? Of course I didn’t. I wanted a good time too. ‘Only end one way,’ Jack. Of course. That was the way I wanted it to end. That’s why I came here to-night, Jack, dear—”
At last he had wrenched his eyes free from her gaze. “Don’t Jeanne!” he cried. “Don’t—” but she clung the closer to him.
“Jack,” she said, as though not understanding, “Jack, what’s changed you? Don’t you want me?” and then, her whole tone altering in one instant’s flash, “There’s some one else, then,” she cried. “You were never like this before. Isn’t there, Jack? Isn’t there?”