“You have done too much already,” she replied, looking affectionately at her lover. “I very much doubt if ever there was a girl so spoilt as I. You will have to make up for it by ruling me with a rod of iron afterward.”
“God forbid that I should ever do that,” he said seriously. “I hope I shall always be an indulgent husband to you.”
“Not too indulgent,” she said. “For my own sake, you must not be. I don’t want to be like a spoilt child.”
“You will never be that,” he said. “To me you will always be the most——”
“Hush!” she said, holding up her finger in warning. “I think we must make it a rule to avoid every sort of compliment. I have had more than is good for me already.”
“I shall find it difficult to obey you, but I will try,” he returned. “And now come with me to the studio; I have one thing left to show you.”
“What is that?”
“You must wait and see for yourself,” he replied, and led the way through the conservatory to the room of which he had spoken. They found the easel covered with a cloth. This he drew aside.
“It is my present to you,” he said, referring to the picture he had revealed, “to be hung in your own room.”