“It’s only pretence, then?” he asked, glancing at the others as if his thoughts were elsewhere.
“It can only be. One is bound to admire him at heart. Nature seldom made a fairer gentleman, and it would be mere perversity to deny it, except, as I do, for his good.”
Then suddenly she saw he was scarcely listening to her, and looking at the photographs without seeing them, and instinctively she moved away, feeling a little at loss. The next moment he had caught her shoulders, and kissed her again.
“I said I’d try, and so I have, but it’s no use. Little woman, don’t be prudish; kiss me back again.”
But she pushed him away, and in the firelight he saw she was very white and determined.
“I asked you not to. It is much worse taste still now.”
“No, it isn’t—don’t be silly. Why shouldn’t I kiss you? I... I... have got awfully fond of you, and I know you like me somewhere down in your heart.”
“I shall cease to do so from this moment.”
“I dare you to. Hal, if you like me, why not take the sweets that offer? I’ll be bound you’ve never been kissed in your life as I will kiss you. Don’t be prudish. Let me teach you.”
She seemed to hesitate a second, in indecision as to what was her best course to withstand him, and, seizing the opportunity, he suddenly caught her in his arms and kissed her on the lips with swift, eager kisses. Then, not giving her time to speak her resentment, he snatched up his hat and moved to the door.