"Of course not. It's not announced, you know."
"But if he should take you in earnest."
"Silly," Bettina tucked her hand in his arm, "nobody takes me in earnest—but you——"
Her hesitation was charming, but he did not respond ardently, and perhaps she missed something in his manner, for presently she asked, "Are you jealous?"
"My dear, no. Children must play——"
She sighed a little. "Am I such a child?"
He laughed again. "Of course, you're a mere baby—but a dear baby, Betty mine."
And with that she was content.
The big house was not furnished.
"I am going to put in the things which were in the old house before I turned it into a sanatorium. My grandfather was a sea captain, and I have a model of a ship carved by one of his sailors out of soup bones, and there are two great china tureens in the shape of swans, and some ivories and queer embroidered screens that I wouldn't take anything for. It's a sort of jumble for a modern residence, but I like it. And I have had the house built in a style which will be in keeping with my belongings. It's rocky and rugged and there's a fireplace in every room. I like to burn logs for cheerfulness even when there's a furnace—and to come home to the light of them on winter nights."