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"Are you--one?" he said incredulously

"Yes"--with an involuntary shudder--"not that way It is easier for s to co almost ruthless What else I do not know, for I have never experienced violent emotions of any sort--never even deep ehly," she added with conviction, "but not violently I--" she hesitated, stopped short, leaning forward, peering at hi?" She rose and he stood up instantly

There was lightning in her darkening eyes now; in his solimmered and danced She watched it, fascinated, then of a sudden the stor convulsively, face to face there under the stars

"Mr Siward," she breathed, "I don't knohat I a at; do you? Is it at you? At myself? At my poor philosophy in shreds and tatters? Is it some infernal mirth that you seem to be able to kindle in me--for I never knew aat?" he repeated "It was sohed! I--I don't wish to, Mr Siward I do not desire to laugh at anything you haveyou may infer--"

"I don't infer--"

"You do! You norant of deep, of violent ehly, thoroughly in love--"

"Did I hed and h too Then you--"

"What did I do then?" he asked, far too humbly

"You--you infer that I anorant of it to knohat I' about That, Mr Siward, is what you have done to ht to be anyway," he said

It was unfortunate; an utterly inexcusable laughter see always close to his lips and hers

"How can you laugh!" she said "How dare you! I don't care for you nearly as violently as I did, Mr Siward A friendship between us would not be at all good for s pass too swiftly--too intimately There is toothe sombre alteration of his face; and, "Have I hurt you?" she asked penitently

"No"

"Have I, Mr Siward? I did notsweetness, and then the moment's silence, stirred him