"You are very kind to me," she said suddenly. "Why are you so kind?"
The words, spoken with complete ingenuousness, came at a singularly appropriate moment. To Milbanke, nervously conscious of his own emotions, they seemed inspired. With a quick, unsteady gesture he wheeled round, and putting out his hand, caught hers.
"It—it is easy to be kind to some people," he said, almost inarticulately.
Clodagh looked at him in some surprise; but it did not occur to her to withdraw her hand. She stood perfectly calm and unembarrassed; and presently, as he made no attempt at further speech, her glance wandered back to the cool stretch of green water.
"Yes," she said slowly, "I suppose it is easy to be nice to some people; but not to selfish people like me."
At her words, Milbanke's hand tightened abruptly.
"You must not say that," he murmured. "I have never seen any faults in your character. And even—even if I had"—his voice quickened confusedly—"even if I had seen them, you would still be the—the child of my oldest friend."
He spoke disjointedly and agitatedly; but at his words, Clodagh turned to him afresh with a grateful, impulsive movement.
"Ah, then I understand!" she said warmly. "You are very kind—you are very good——"
At her movement and her tone, a mental giddiness seized upon Milbanke. A flush rose to his temples.