"I should deserve it."
"Lord! If men really got their deserts, procreation would cease, and the world, depopulated, revert to the forest beasts. Well, then—so Sir John is got away?"
"I did not say so."
"You wear upon your honest countenance all the news you contain, dear Jack," said she gaily. "It was always so; any woman may read you like a printed page—if she trouble to do it.... And so! Sir John is safe at last! Well, thank God for that.... You may kiss my cheek if you ask me."
She drew too near me, but I had no mind for more trouble than now possessed me, so let her pretty hand lie lightly on my arm, and endured the melting danger of her gaze.
She said, while the smile died on her lips, "I jest with you, Jack. But you are dear to me."
"Dear as any trophy," said I. "No woman ever willingly lets any victim entirely escape."
"You do not guess what you could do with me—if you would," she said.
"No. But I guess what you could do to me, again, if you had an opportunity."
"Jack!" she sighed, looking up at me.