"Can you love me, Japonette?"
"Can you?"
"Yes."
Her hand tightened over his wrist as he drew her close, crushing her to him. She looked up blindly into his eyes as he kissed her; then her lids unclosed and her silent lips moved, forming his name.
They neither dressed for the theater nor went to it. They dined together at an outrageous hour in an unfashionable haunt of his.
Silvette, Jack, Mr. Rivett, and Mr. Dineen found them at supper in the little parlor when they arrived from the play.
"Di!" cried Silvette, "what on earth has possessed you and Jim?"
Her voice failed her at sight of her sister's face.
"That!" she exclaimed; "has that happened? Darling! My little Di—my little, little girl!" she murmured, dropping on her knees beside her.
Mr. Dineen looked foolishly at Mr. Rivett.