"Yes."
"Ah, you've said it," he said joyfully, slipping his arm round her waist. "You have said, 'yes.'"
"Ah! perhaps I did not mean it," she answered coquettishly.
"I don't care," he retorted recklessly, "you have said it, and I hold you----"
"Yes you do," she murmured with a smile.
"To your word," he finished gaily. "Victoria, say you love me a little."
"No, I can't say that."
His face whitened, and a pained look came into his eyes, but she laid her head on his shoulder, and looking up, whispered softly:
"Because I love you a great deal."
"My darling."