"N-no! I arrived always a little too late. But there are such things."
He nodded. "Everybody knows that since 'Peter Pan.'"
Another shy glance told her that he was still regarding her with his look of wondering admiration. She pointed to a path, saying:
"This way will bring you to the road, sir, if you wish."
"But—I don't wish—not yet." He sought wildly for an excuse to stay, and exclaimed: "Oh, the orchid. I must get it for you."
"That will be very nice of you, sir. For two years I have awaited its blooming. If you had not arrived I would have got it, anyhow."
"Girls shouldn't climb trees," he said, severely. "It tears their dresses."
"Oh, one cannot tear a dress like this." She glanced down at her skirt. Allowing his eyes to leave her face for a moment, Kirk saw that she was clad, oddly enough, in a suit of denim, which was buttoned snugly clear to her neck. It struck him as most inappropriate, yet it was extremely well made, and he could not complain of the effect.
He broke his gun and removed the shells; then, leaving it beside the bath-house, went to the tree where he had first seen her. With one hand resting upon the trunk, he turned to say:
"Promise you won't disappear while I'm up there, or change into a squirrel, or a bird, or anything like that."