Part 15 (1/2)
”I believe it is, yes,” he said, glancing towards the gently flapping blind. ”Has that got anything to do with it?”
”Of course it has. I believe, I do believe you never would have known it was a fine day at all, if I had not come to see you!”
”I can hardly believe that you did come to see me for the purpose of telling me it was a fine day,” said Paul.
Katharine leaned over the back of her chair, and nodded at him.
”Guess why I did come,” she said. He shook his head lazily. She imparted the rest of her news in little instalments, to give it more emphasis. ”It's my half-term holiday,” she said again, and paused to watch the effect of her words.
”I think I heard you say that before,” he observed.
”And I'm going into the country for the whole day.”
”Yes?” said Paul, who did not seem impressed.
”And I want you to come too. There! don't you think it was worth a visit?” Her laugh rang out, and filled the little room. Paul was stroking his beard reflectively, but he did not seem vexed.
”Really, Katharine,” he said once more.
”Oh, now, don't be musty,” she pleaded, resting her chin on her hands.
”I just want to do something jolly to-day; and I've never asked you anything before, have I? Do, _please_, Mr. Wilton. I won't bother you again for ever so long; I promise you I won't.”
”Are you aware,” said Paul, frowning, ”that it is not customary to come and visit a man in his chambers in this uninvited manner?”
”You know quite well,” retorted Katharine, ”that nothing ever matters, if I do it.”
”Of course I know that you are beyond the taint of scandal, or the--”
She started up impatiently, and came over to the side of his arm-chair.
”Don't begin to be sarcastic. I never can think of the word I want, when you get sarcastic. I am not beyond anything, and I am certainly not above asking you a favour. Now, if you were to stop being superior for a few minutes--”
”And if you were to stop standing on one leg, and swinging the other about in that juvenile manner, a catastrophe might be--”
She seized a cus.h.i.+on and tried to smother him with it; but he was too quick for her, and the cus.h.i.+on went spinning to the other end of the room, and she found herself pulled on to his knee.
”You dreadful child! It is too hot, and I am too old for romping in this fas.h.i.+on,” he observed lazily.
”Are you coming?” she asked abruptly. She was playing with his watch chain, and he did not quite know what to make of her face.
”Do you want me to?” he asked gently.
”Of course I do,” she said, in a swift little whisper; and her fingers strayed up to his scarf pin, and touched his beard.
”I am being dreadfully improper,” she said.
”You are being very nice,” he replied, and weakly kissed her fingers.
She did not move, and he gave her a little shake.