"Thanking me?" she repeated.
"Of course!" replied Raymond. "Why, I owe my first success to you! To-day has brought me the greatest joy of my life!"
"But if you thank me, what can I say to you?" she asked, her voice trembling with tenderness. He smiled back at her.
"Tell me that you are glad," he suggested She gazed into his eyes with her heart in hers.
"Yes, I am glad—very glad—almost happy!" she said, in a low, vibrant voice. "But I did not dare hope for the happiness that has come to me to-day!"
Her strength did, indeed, seem to be returned rapidly. Her voice was surer, her eyes sparkled, and there was a fleck of color in her cheeks. Raymond felt his lips tremble and he fought with a desire to throw himself into her arms. It was several seconds before he trusted himself to speak. Then:
"I hope I won't tire you," he said, politely. "Before I go, don't you think we might have a little chat? You haven't spoiled me much in that respect, have you?" he added, with a sudden smile. "You are my first client and I hardly know you!"
She reached out and touched his arm in quick apology.
"You must forgive me for having received you so rudely," she said. Raymond laughed.
"You didn't receive me at all, as a matter of fact," he declared. "But I wasn't angry. I said to myself, 'She probably finds me too young, or has no confidence in me, or—or——'" His eyes dropped and in a lower tone he added, "or she doesn't think—she would like me."