“Amadis!  If you are a true Knight, it is you who should turn round and look at me for yourself!”

“But I am busy,” he said, with the same sharpness of voice—­ “Surely you see that?”

She made no answer, but moved quietly to a position where she stood facing him at about an arm’s length.  Never had she made a prettier picture than in that attitude of charming hesitation, with a tender little smile on her pretty mouth and a wistful light in her eyes.  He laid down his palette and brushes.

“I must give up work for to-day,” he said—­and going to her he took her in his arms—­“You are too great an attraction for me to resist!” He kissed her lightly, as he would have kissed a child.  “You are very fascinating this afternoon!  Are you bent on some new conquest?”

She gave him a sweet look.

“Why will you talk nonsense, my Amadis!” she said—­“You know I never wish for ‘conquests’ as you call them,—­I only want you!  Nothing but you!”

With his arm about her he drew her to a corner of the studio, half curtained, where there was a double settee or couch, comfortably cushioned, and here he sat down still holding her in his embrace.

“You only want me!—­Nothing but me!” he repeated, softly—­“Dear little Innocent!—­Ah!—­But I fear I am just what you cannot have!”

She smiled, not understanding.

“What do you mean?” she asked—­“You always play with me!  Are you not all mine as I am all yours?”

He was silent.  Then he slowly withdrew his arm from her waist.

“Now, child,” he said—­“listen to me and be good and sensible!  You know this cannot go on.”

She lifted her eyes trustfully to his face.

“What cannot go on?” she queried, as softly as though the question were a caress.

He moved restlessly.

“Why—­this—­this love-making, of ours!  We mustn’t give ourselves over to sentiment—­we must be normal and practical.  We must look the thing squarely in the face and settle on some course that will be best and wisest for us both—­”

She trembled a little.  Something cold and terrifying began to creep through her blood.

“Yes—­I know,” she faltered, nervously—­“You said—­you said we would arrange everything together to-day.”

“True!  So I did!  Well, I will!” He drew closer to her and took her little hand in his own.  “You see, dear, we can’t live on the heights of ecstasy for ever” and he smiled,—­a forced, ugly smile —­“We’ve had a very happy time together, haven’t we?”—­and he was conscious of a certain nervousness as he felt her soft little body press against him in answer—­“But the time has come for us to think of other things—­other interests—­your career,—­my future—­”

She looked up at him in sudden alarm.

“Amadis!” she said—­“What is it?  You frighten me!—­you speak so strangely!  What do you mean?”

“Now if you are unreasonable I shall go away!” he said, with sudden harshness, dropping her hand—­“I shall leave you here by yourself without another word!”