his left hand to take her right. They always made peace by taking hands.

But Aurora's did not move, and she did not even turn her head towards
him.

"Take care!" she said quickly, in a low tone. "They are watching us."

Marcello looked round and saw that the others were nearer than he had
supposed, and he blushed foolishly.

"Well, what harm would there be if you gave me your hand?" he asked. "I
only meant--"

"Yes, I understand," Aurora answered, in the same tone as before. "And I
am glad you like me, Marcello--if you really do."

"If I do!" His tone was full of youthful and righteous indignation.

"I did not mean to doubt it," she said quickly. "But it is getting to be
different now, you know. We are older, and somehow everything means
more, even the little things."

"Oh!" ejaculated Marcello. "I begin to see. I suppose," he added, with
what seemed to him reckless brutality, "that if I kissed you now you
would be furious."

He glanced uneasily at Aurora's face to note the effect of this
terrible speech. The result was not exactly what he had expected. A
faint colour rose in her cheeks, and then she laughed.