Part 6 (1/2)
Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box
”Bed-ti, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned theof words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----”
His floas arrested by a startling gasp
”Oh, it's no good!” Barbara cried ”You're hopeless, hopeless”
To his aured, forgetting to break through his guard, tossing her weapon away; no longer teasing, imperious or purposely reckless; and without one of her disarer of a flesh-wound clumsily reopened The nextat him with hot eyes Then the set cheeks and co petals of a blown rose; her an to cry
Eric looked in consternation at her puckered, pathetic face, suddenly colourless save for dark rings round the big, hollow eyes Then he sat down and drew her to hi to her half as if she were a child, half as though she were capable of understanding his weighty diagnosis
”Lady Barbara! Lady Barbara! Are you listening to me? You mustn't cry--_really_It takes away _all_ your prettiness Now, you were fairly hard on ence; I didn't need to have Lady Poynter shouting froht to be in bed and you ought to stay there, instead of exciting yourself Lady Barbara, _please_ stop crying! I don't knohat I said, but I'm very humbly sorry Won't you stop?”
She stiffened herself with a jerk and smiled as abruptly
”It was my fault I've not been well and I've been very ry with me”
She leaned forward and put her hands on his shoulders again
”Why should I be angry with you?” he asked with a defensive laugh
Her hands dropped into her lap
”You won't kiss me?”
”What difference would it make?”
”I ask you to What difference would it arette
”It so happens that I've never kissed any one,” he said, ”except rily reproachful, he repeated: ”What _difference_ would it hed ”And yet I thought you would Where did you get that tray from, Eric? You've never been to India, have you?”
”It was given ive you any satisfaction”
He kissed her forehead with shame-faced timidity and became discursively explanatory
”The candle-sticks were looted during the Coiven the present The clock”
Barbara andering listlessly round the roo She explored the book-cases, ransacked the writing-table and looked curiously at the horse-shoe paper-weight
”You can give this to ested over her shoulder
”I'ht”
”It would still be a present, if you gave it to me I had one, but I broke it All my luck's left me since then Are you superstitious?”
”Not--in--the--_least_! I keep this for associations and a toy If I _could_ bring out a play on Friday the thirteenth----”