"Reward!" he echoed, puzzled.
"You forget you saved my life," she replied, smiling. "Close your eyes—promise you will not open them till I give you leave. You promise?"
"Yes," he laughed, still not understanding.
He closed his eyes and waited. With a mischievous smile she bent forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Lionel started. In a moment doubt was forgotten—forgotten the husband. All he knew was that a heavenly creature had deigned to kiss him. "Your promise!" she cried warningly, and by an effort of pride he kept his eyes closed. But he stood up, his arms held out. There was dead silence for a moment, and then—
"Am I still bound?"
"You are free," she said merrily. He opened his eyes, to find the reality more alluring than the dream. He seized her hands. She could not help shrinking a little, though her eyes shone defiance.
"Why did you do that?" he breathed, aflame.
She smiled mournfully.
"Forgive me," she pleaded in tones that disarmed him.
Lionel remembered his rôle as a man of honor and dropped her hand.