Afterwards that sounded to her a little funny, but as she heard him say it she thought it only strange and beautiful. Something tenderer than liking, something graver came into her gaze as she looked down at him.
"I've not been a nice woman to you, Con," she said. "One day you'll think so."
"I shall never think so," he vowed, "never. I deserved you should punish me."
But that wasn't what she had meant. "You will think so." She nodded. "Only you won't mind then, because you'll laugh at it all."
"You're cruel," he choked. "Because I'm not a man you think I can't love you really. No man could love you better than I do. If I could only tell you what I feel! I'd die for you, I'd do anything for you. Oh, Mrs. Adaile, I shall never see you any more—for God's sake let me kiss you once!"
Quick as her compassion was, the misgiving of a boy was quicker—in the dizzy second that he saw her bending to him he wondered how he ought to hold her. Then her bosom fell upon his breathlessness, and he went to Heaven against her lips.
"I must go," she said, freeing herself.
"Oh, don't," he begged, "not yet."
"I must; I oughtn't to have come up."
"What shall I do?" he groaned. "Oh, it's awful to be leaving you!"