Closer he drew her lips toward his. Suddenly she closed her eyes, her whole body relaxed, and lay limp against him. As his lips met hers, her arms tightened about him and held him in a strong embrace. Then she opened her eyes, raised herself up, and gazed at him as if in surprise. “Oh, Jack,” she cried, “I cannot think it is true. Are you sure? I could not bear it if you were mistaken.”
There was the sound of a footstep on the stair. “Let me go, Jack; there's your sister coming. Quick! Lie down.” Hurriedly, she began once more to bathe his face as Mrs. Waring-Gaunt came in.
“Is he resting?” she said. “Why, Jack, you seem quite feverish. Did you give him his medicine?”
“Yes, about an hour ago, I think.”
“An hour! Why, before you came upstairs? How long have you been in?”
“Oh, no, immediately after I came down,” said the girl in confusion. “I don't know how long ago. I didn't look at the time.” She busied herself straightening the bed.
“Sybil, she doesn't know how long ago,” said Jack. “She's been behaving as I never have heard of any properly trained nurse behaving. She's been kissing me.”
“Oh, Jack,” gasped Kathleen, flushing furiously.
“Kissing you!” exclaimed Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, looking from one to the other.
“Yes, and I have been kissing her,” continued Jack shamelessly.