Presently he spoke, with a certain irritability in his tone.
"Are you there? I wish you would come forward where I can see you!"
She laughed—a pretty rippling laugh of kindly amusement.
"Amadis! If you are a true Knight, it is you who should turn round and look at me for yourself!"
"But I am busy," he said, with the same sharpness of voice—"Surely you see that?"
She made no answer, but moved quietly to a position where she stood facing him at about an arm's length. Never had she made a prettier picture than in that attitude of charming hesitation, with a tender little smile on her pretty mouth and a wistful light in her eyes. He laid down his palette and brushes.
"I must give up work for to-day," he said—and going to her he took her in his arms—"You are too great an attraction for me to resist!" He kissed her lightly, as he would have kissed a child. "You are very fascinating this afternoon! Are you bent on some new conquest?"
She gave him a sweet look.
"Why will you talk nonsense, my Amadis!" she said—"You know I never wish for 'conquests' as you call them,—I only want you! Nothing but you!"
With his arm about her he drew her to a corner of the studio, half curtained, where there was a double settee or couch, comfortably cushioned, and here he sat down still holding her in his embrace.