“What power over you, Opal!”

“What’s the use of dodging the truth, you professor of honesty?  You make me do things we both know I’ll be sorry for all the rest of my life. Why do you do it?”

Her eyes blazed with a real anger that made her piquante face more alluring than ever to the eyes of the infatuated Boy who watched her.  He was fighting desperately for self-control, but if she should look at him as she had looked sometimes—!

“I can’t understand it!” she exclaimed.  “I always knew I was capable of being foolish—­wicked, perhaps—­for a grande passion.  I could forgive myself that, I think!  But for a mere caprice—­a penchant like this!  Oh, Paul! what can you think of me?”

His voice was hoarse—­heavy with emotion.

“Think of you, Opal?  I am sure you must know what I think.  I’ve never had an opportunity to tell you—­in so many words—­but you must have seen what I have certainly taken no pains to conceal.  Shall I try to tell you, Opal?”

“No, no!  I don’t want to hear a word—­not a word!  Do you understand?  I forbid you!”

Paul bowed deferentially.  She laughed nervously at the humility in his obeisance.

“Don’t be ridiculous!” she commanded.  “This is growing too melodramatic, and I hate a scene.  But, really, Paul, you mustn’t—­simply mustn’t!  There are reasons—­conditions—­and—­you must not tell me, and I must not, will not listen!”

“I mustn’t make love to you, you mean?”

“I mean ... just that!”

“Why not?”

“Never mind the ‘why.’  There are plenty of good and sufficient reasons that I might give if I chose, but—­I don’t choose!  The only reason that you need to know is—­that I forbid you!”

She turned away with that regal air of hers that made one forget her child-like stature.

“Are you going, Opal?”

“Yes!—­what did I come out here for?  I can’t remember.  Do you know?”

“To wish me good-night, of course!  And you haven’t done it!”

She looked back over her shoulder, a mocking laugh in those inscrutable eyes.  Then she turned and held out both hands to him.

“Good-night, Paul, good-night!...  You seem able to do as you please with me, in spite of—­everything—­and I just want to stay in your arms forever—­forever ...”

Paul caught her to him, and their lips melted in a clinging kiss.

At last she drew away from his embrace.

“The glitter of the moonlight and the music of the wind-maddened waves must have gone to my brain!” She laughed merrily, pulled his face down to hers for a last swift kiss, and ran from him before he could detain her.

* * * * *

The next morning they met for a brief moment alone.

Opal shook hands with the Boy in her most perfunctory manner.

Paul, after a moment’s silent contemplation of her troubled face, bent over her, saying, “Have I offended you, Opal?  Are you angry with me?”