Part 2 (1/2)
She, on her part, had been busy satisfying herself that he was a very presentable young man, in spite of the somewhat formidable reputation he wore as a person of learned attainments There could be no better way to show hih her eyes, so you must know that she saw a ht and not over-tall but well-proportioned, and with a coht His eyes, indeed, were a very dark grey, and his hair was black, and his face and hands had been coloured by the sun and wind until the tan had becoed periods of studious indoor seclusion worked little toward lightening it If his looks attracted, it was not because he was handsoth to be discerned in his face, as well as an engaging ht of ancestry, his ascendants for several generations having been notable representatives of one of the First Fainia Amber was not inordinately proud of this fact, at least not inians; but his friends--ere many but mostly male--claimed that he wrote ”FFV” before the ”FRS” which he was entitled to inscribe after his nairl's use of his na which they looked one another over, was sufficiently prolonged to excuse the reference to it which Amber chose to make
”I'm sure,” he said with his slow smile, ”that we're satisfied we've never irl
”That only makes it the ly; ”doesn't it?”
”You know, you're hardly fair toto entertain doubts of my senses When I left the train at Nokomis station I met a man I knoell as I know myself--pretty nearly; and he denied e, ali, who apparently takes me for somebody he has business with And finally, you call me by name”
”It isn't so very remarkable, when you come to consider it,” she returned soberly ”Mr David Aht very well have seen your photograph published in connection with some review of--let me see Your latest book was entitled 'The Peoples of the Hindu Kush,' wasn't it? You see, I haven't read it”
”That's sensible of you, I'm sure Why should you? But your theory doesn't hold water, because I won't permit my publishers to print enerally appear in profound monthlies which abhor illustrations”
”Oh!” She received this with a note of disappointment ”Then hed, ”but you'll have to be enious--and practical”
”And you won't show ers jealously over the bronze box ”Not until”
”You insist on reciprocity?”
”Absolutely”
”That's very unkind of you”
”How?” he demanded blankly
”You will have it that I nito If I tell you how I happen to knoho you are, I must tell you who I am Immediately you will lose interest in me, because I'm really not at all advanced; I doubt if I should understand your book if I had to read it”
”Which Heaven forfend! But why,” he insisted mercilessly, ”do you wish ly at this and acknowledged the touch with a rueful, slance But, ”Because I'm interested in you,” she admitted openly
”Andwhy?”
”Are you hardened to such adventures?” She nodded in the direction the babu had taken ”Are you accustoalis and accepting tokens from them? Is romance commonplace to you?”
”Oh,” he said, disappointed, ”if it's only the adventure--! Of course, that's easily enough explained This half-witted nised in me some one he had known in India Let's have a look at this token-thing”
He disclosed the bronze box and let her take it in her pretty fingers
”It ,” she concluded, after a careful inspection
”I think so, but”
She shook it, holding it by her ear ”There's sohtly I wonder!”
”Noto do with it?” She returned it reluctantly