"Isn't she?"

She made no reply.

He said: "Amourette, shall I illustrate what I mean—with you as the passive agent?"

The girl bent over a little, then with a sudden movement she dropped her head in her hands. A moment later he saw a single tear fall between her fingers.

He looked east, west, north, south, and finally up into the sky. Seeing nobody, the silly expression left his otherwise interesting face; a graver, gentler light grew in his eyes. And he put one arm around her supple waist.

"Something is dreadfully wrong," he said; "all this must be explained—our strange encounter, our speaking, our talking at cross purposes, our candid interest in each other—the sudden, swift, unfeigned friendship that was born the instant that our eyes encountered——"

"I know it. It was born. Oh, I know it. I know it, and I could not help it—somehow—somehow——"

"It—it was almost like—like—love at first sight," he whispered.

"It was—something like it—I am afraid——"

"Do you think it was love?"