"Louis?"
"Dearest," he whispered, his lips to hers.
"It is sweet of you, it is perfectly dear of you to wish me to be your—wife. But—let us decide such questions later—"
"Valerie! What do you mean?"
"I didn't mean that I don't love you," she said, tremulously. "I believe you scarcely understand how truly I do love you…. As a matter of fact, I have always been in love with you without knowing it. You are not the only fool," she said, with a confused little laugh.
"You darling!"
She smiled again uncertainly and shook her head:
"I truly believe I have always been in love with you…. Now that I look back and consider, I am sure of it." She lifted her pretty head and gazed at him, then with a gay little laugh of sheer happiness almost defiant: "You see I am not afraid to love you," she said.
"Afraid? Why should you be?" he repeated, watching her expression.
"Because—I am not going to marry you," she announced, gaily.