He drew a deep breath.
"You are the most exasperating——"
"Dear Eric! I can't help teasing you! Are you the clever only child? Well, you ought to be.… I don't believe any one's ever teased you before. You mustn't be exasperated by me!"
Her laughter was irresistible, and Eric joined in it.
"Lady Barbara—I'm sorry—Babs, this is serious. You say you'd be out of your mind in a week, if you adopted my prescription. Let me tell you this; if you go on as you're doing now, you will go out of your mind——"
"I shouldn't bother you, if I were in an asylum."
Eric stiffened and turned his attention to the food before him.
"You're not an easy person to talk to——," he began.
"Oh, you dear child!" said Barbara, with a gurgle of laughter. "Two minutes ago it was, 'Ahaw, Lady Crawleigh, I should prescribe …' And one minute ago you became earnest and loving and grand-paternal, with your fond advice! Eric, I love you when you're like that! Now don't be self-conscious! 'Your ideahs of tidiness, aw, Lady Barbarah …' Whatever people may say, I believe you're intelligent. In time you'll understand." Her eyes softened and ceased to laugh at him. "Less than half a week! In time you'll know what you've done for me, what I very humbly hope and pray you're going to go on doing for me.… You'll know why I trust you and love you more than I've ever loved any one in my life before. There! Is that plain enough? I don't say it excuses my being 'tiresome,' but it may explain it.… Now don't say, 'Lady Barbarah, I—er—I don't—aw—understand you!'" Her fingers twined their way confidingly between his. "Why bother? Why not go on being just what you are?" she whispered. "Something that's made me think life's still worth living. I don't claim it," she added with a change of tone. "I ask it."
"And will you do something for me in return?" Eric asked. "Will you take six months' complete rest in the country, drop smoking——?"