providing surprises for his acquaintances, was sufficient to save
her. Their struggles upon the very edge of the roof dislodged a
brick from the palisading, which went hurtling down into the
street. They both paused to watch it, his arms still gripping
her and one foot pressed against an iron rod. It was immediately
after they had seen it pitch harmlessly into the road that a new
sensation came to this phlegmatic young man. For the first time
in his life, he realized that it was possible to feel a certain
pleasurable emotion in the close grasp of a being of the opposite
sex. Consequently, although she had now ceased to struggle, he
kept his arms locked around her, looking into her face with an
interest intense enough, but more analytical than emotional, as
though seeking to discover the meaning of this curious throbbing
of his pulses. She herself, as though exhausted, remained quite
passive, shivering a little in his grasp and breathing like a
hunted animal whose last hour has come. Their eyes met; then she
tore herself away.

"You are a hateful person," she said deliberately, "a hateful,
interfering person. I detest you."

"I think that we will go down now," he replied.

He raised the trap-door and glanced at her significantly. She
held her skirts closely together and passed through it without
looking at him. She stepped lightly down the ladder and without
hesitation descended also a flight of uncarpeted attic stairs.
Here, however, upon the landing, she awaited him with obvious
reluctance.