Iole Part 18

"No; you tell me?"

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because--I simply can't."

"Are you ashamed to?"

"Perhaps--" He lifted his boxed sketching-kit by the strap, swung it, then set it carefully upon the ground: "Perhaps it is because I am ashamed to admit that there could be any danger to any woman in this world of men."

She looked at him so seriously that he straightened up and began to laugh. But she did not forget anything he had said, and she began her questions at once:

"Why should you not walk with me?"

"I'll take that back," he said, still laughing; "there is every reason why I should walk with you."

"Oh!... But you said----"

"All I meant was not for you, but for the ordinary sort of girl. Now, the ordinary, every-day, garden girl does not concern you----"

"Yes, she does! Why am I not like her?"

"Don't attempt to be----"

"_Am_ I different--very different?"

"Superbly different!" The flush came to his face with the impulsive words.

She considered him in silence, then: "Should I have been offended because you came into the Park to find me? And why did you? Do you find me interesting?"

"So interesting," he said, "that I don't know what I shall do when you go away."

Another pause; she was deeply absorbed with her own thoughts. He watched her, the color still in his face, and in his eyes a growing fascination.

"I'm not out," she said, resting her chin on one gloved hand, "so we're not likely to meet at any of those jolly things you go to. What do you think we'd better do?--because they've all warned me against doing just what you and I have done."

"Speaking without knowing each other?" he asked guiltily.

"Yes.... But I did it first to you. Still, when I tell them about it, they won't let you come to visit me. I tried it once. I was in a car, and such an attractive man looked at me as though he wanted to speak, and so when I got out of the car he got out, and I thought he seemed rather timid, so I asked him where Tiffany's was. I really didn't know, either. So we had such a jolly walk together up Fifth Avenue, and when I said good-by he was so anxious to see me again, and I told him where I lived. But--do you know?--when I explained about it at home they acted so strangely, and they never would tell me whether or not he ever came."

"Then you intend to tell them all about--_us_?"

"Of course. I've disobeyed them."

"And--and I am never to see you again?"

"Oh, I'm very disobedient," she said innocently. "If I wanted to see you I'd do it."

"But _do_ you?"

"I--I am not sure. Do you want to see me?"

His answer was stammered and almost incoherent. That, and the color in his face and the _something_ in his eyes, interested her.

"Do you really find me so attractive?" she asked, looking him directly in the eyes. "You must answer me quickly; see how dark it is growing!

I must go. Tell me, do you like me?"

"I never cared so much for--for any woman----."

She dimpled with delight and lay back regarding him under level, unembarra.s.sed brows.

"That is very pleasant," she said. "I've often wished that a man--of your kind--would say that to me. I do wish we could be together a great deal, because you like me so much already and I truly do find you agreeable.... Say it to me again--about how much you like me."

"I--I--there is no woman--none I ever saw so--so interesting.... I mean more than that."

"Say it then."

"Say what I mean?"

"Yes."

"I am afraid----"

"Afraid? Of what?"

"Of offending you----"

"Is it an offense to me to tell me how much you like me? _How_ can it offend me?"

"But--it is incredible! You won't believe----"

"Believe what?"

"That in so short a time I--I could care for you so much----"

"But I shall believe you. I know how I feel toward you. And every time you speak to me I feel more so."

"Feel more so?" he stammered.

"Yes, I experience more delight in what you say. Do you think I am insensible to the way you look at me?"

"You--you mean--" He simply could not find words.

She leaned back, watching him with sweet composure; then laughed a little and said: "Do you suppose that you and I are going to fall in love with one another?"

In the purpling dusk the perfume of wistaria grew sweeter and sweeter.

"I've done it already--" His voice shook and failed; a thrush, invisible in shadowy depths, made soft, low sounds.