"You know we are!"
"Is that what you think, Jim?"
"Certainly! I asked you to marry me——"
"No, dear, I asked you. But I wasn't certain you had quite accepted me——"
"Are you laughing at me?"
"I don't know—I don't know what I am doing any more; laughter and tears seem so close to each other—sometimes—and I can never be certain which it is going to be any more."
Her eyes remained grave, but her lips were sweet and humourous as she stood there on the stairs, her chin resting on the sheaf of carnations clasped to her breast.
"What is troubling you, Jacqueline?" he asked, after a moment's silence.
"Nothing. If you will hold these flowers a moment I'll decorate you."