“Cheetah,” she whispered almost inaudibly, “Cheetah—I didn't understand. But now—. I want to bear your child.”
He was astonished. “Old Leopard!” he said.
“No,” she answered, putting her hands upon his shoulders and drawing very close to him, “Queen—-if I can be—to your King.”
“You want to bear me a child!” he whispered, profoundly moved.
8
The Hindu agitators at the cavernous dinner under the House of Commons came to the conclusion that Benham was a dreamer. And over against Amanda at her dinner-party sat Sir Sidney Umber, one of those men who know that their judgments are quoted.
“Who is the beautiful young woman who is seeing visions?” he asked of his neighbour in confidential undertones....
He tittered. “I think, you know, she ought to seem just SLIGHTLY aware that the man to her left is talking to her....”
9
A few days later Benham went down to Cambridge, where Prothero was now a fellow of Trinity and Brissenden Trust Lecturer....