deprecating tenderness.

"It's better to tell you. I _do_ feel it, and have always felt it."

"Confound this infernal atmosphere!" Hilliard broke out wrathfully.
"It's making you morbid again. Come here to me! Eve--come!"

As she sat motionless, he caught her hands and drew her forward, and
sat down again with her passive body resting upon his knees. She was
pale, and looked frightened.

"Your gratitude be hanged! Pay me back with your lips--so--and
so! Can't you understand that when my lips touch yours, I have a
delight that would be well purchased with years of semi-starvation?
What is it to me how I won you? You are mine for good and all--
that's enough."

She drew herself half away, and stood brightly flushed, touching her
hair to set it in order again. Hilliard, with difficulty controlling
himself, said in a husky voice--

"Is the mood gone?"

Eve nodded, and sighed.



CHAPTER XX