"But too intimate," she objected, "you have known me only six months."
"Do you reckon knowledge by Time?"
"You have no knowledge: you confessed as much lately."
Hardwick looked at her earnestly. "I have this much, that I know how deeply I love you, my dear!" and he took her hand gently between his palms.
Alice let it lie there undisturbed, but did not return his pressure. For a few moments she looked straightly at the sunset. "I am sorry to hear you say that," was her calm remark when she did decide to speak.
"Why?"
"Because I can never love you!"
"Love can create love," urged Julian, again pressing her hand and again receiving no answering caress.
"Not between you and me. You may be fire, but I am not tow to catch alight." The flush had disappeared from her face, leaving it pure and white and calm to such a degree that the man dropped her hand. It was like holding a piece of ice, and he felt chilled by the aloofness of touch and look. "But you are a woman," he said roughly in his vexation, "you must know what love means."