“What!” she cried; “and act toward Myra as I saw just now?”
“Toward Myra?”
“Yes; I know she’s a hundred times nicer than I am, but I did think—I did think—O Percy, how could you kiss her hand like that?”
He caught her to his breast as she broke down into a fit of sobbing, and held her there.
“O Edie,” he said, “you silly, blind little thing! Why, I never even thought—oh, but go on—go on,” he whispered; “I am so glad—jealous of me like that! Then you do love me dearly, and you can’t deny it now.”
Edie made little effort to escape from the close encircling arms which held her tightly, fluttering like a bird; none to deny Guest’s charge. It was very lonely and dark upon that staircase, and in another moment she would have been shrinking from her companion’s kisses; but, moved by the same impulse, they sprang apart, for from Stratton’s room a wild, appealing cry broke the silence of the echoing stairs.