It pleased Louis to ride this bicycle out of the back yard, down the sloping entry, and then steer it through another narrow gateway, across the pavement, and let it solemnly bump, first with the front wheel and then with the back wheel, from the pavement into the road.  During this feat he stood on the pedals.  He turned the machine up Bycars Lane, and steadily climbed the steep at Rachel’s walking pace.  And Rachel, hurrying by his side, watched in the obscurity the play of his ankles as he put into practice the principles of pedalling which he had preached.  He was a graceful rider; every movement was natural and elegant.  Rachel considered him to be the most graceful cyclist that ever was.  She was fascinated by the revolutions of his feet.

She felt ecstatically happy.  The episode of his caprice for the seaside was absolutely forgotten; after all, she asked for nothing more than possession of him, and she had that, though indeed it seemed too marvellous to be true.  The bicycle lesson was her hour of magic; and more so on this night than on previous nights.

“I must change my dress,” she had said.  “I can’t go in this one.”

“Quick, then!”

His impatience could not wait.  He had helped her.  He undid hooks, and fastened others....  The rich blue frock lay across the bed and looked lovely on the ivory-coloured counterpane.  It seemed indeed to be a part of that in her which was Louise.  Then she was in a short skirt which she had devised herself, and he was pushing her out of the room, his hand on her back.  And she had feigned reluctance, resisting his pressure, while laughing with gleeful eagerness to be gone.  No delay had been allowed.  As they passed through the kitchen, not one instant for parley with Mrs. Tams as to the domestic organization of the evening!  He was still pushing her....  Thus she had had to confide her precious house and its innumerable treasures to Mrs. Tams.  And in this surrender to Louis’ whim there was a fearful joy.

When Louis turned at last into Park Road, and stepped from between the wheels, she exclaimed, a little breathless from quick walking level with him up the hill—­

“I can’t bear to see you ride so well.  Oh!” She crunched her teeth with a loving, cruel gesture.  “I should like to hurt you frightfully!”

“What for?”

“Because I shall never, never be able to ride as well as you do!”

He winked.

“Here!  Take hold.”

“I’m not ready!  I’m not ready!” she cried.

But he loosed the machine, and she was obliged to seize it as it fell.  That was his teasing.