"Don't be silly!"
"Well, how do you like it, anyway?"
Desire's eyes met his for an instant and then fell quickly. But not before he had seen a mistiness which looked remarkably like—Good heavens, he might have known that she would be tired and upset!
"You have noticed, of course," he went on lightly, "that we have fireplaces? They are very dirty but they provide atmosphere. Almost too much atmosphere sometimes. There are no dampers and when the wind blows the wrong way—Oh, my dear child, do cry if you really feel like it."
"Cry!" indignantly. "I n—never cry."
"Well, try it for a change. I believe it is strongly recommended and—don't go away. Please."
"I had no idea I was going to be silly," said Desire after a moment, in an annoyed voice.
"It usually comes unexpectedly. Probably you are tired."
Desire wiped her eyes with businesslike thoroughness.
"No. I'm not. I'm suppressed. Do you remember what you said about suppressed emotion the other day? Well, I'm like that, and it's your fault. You bring me to this beautiful home and you never, never once, allow me to thank you properly—oh, I'm not going to do it, so don't look frightened. But one feels so safe here. Benis, it's years and years since I felt just safe."