She drew her finger along the line of his eyebrow.
'How does your picture get on?'
'I have to give two sittings next week. Thank goodness they are the last.'
'Oh! why wasn't it in time for the Academy! But it must go next year.'
Wilfrid laughed as he seated himself opposite to her.
'I am not sure, after all, that you are happy,' she said, leaning her head a little aside as she gazed at him. 'Now you are thoughtful. I suppose you will be more and more thoughtful.'
'Deep on his front engraven Deliberation sat, and public care—'
quoted Wilfrid, with a little wrying of the lips. 'This, you know, is one of the penalties of greatness.'
She seemed about to rise, but it was only to slip forward and sink upon her knees by his side, her arms embracing him. It was like the fall of fair waters, so gracefully impulsive, so self-abandoning.
'Not one kiss to-day?' she murmured, her voice like the dying of a flute.