A wave of remorse for her thoughts swept over her. "Also," she went on, and she was radiant again, "I’m waiting to be kissed."
He laughed, gazed lovingly at her. "What a beauty she is, this morning," he cried. "Like the flowers—the roses—the finest rose that every grew—in a dream of roses."
Her eyes at once showed that his negligence was forgotten. Their lips met in a lingering kiss. He drew away, threw back his head, gazed at her. "Was there ever woman so lovely and fresh and pure?" he said. With impulsive daring she overcame her virginal shyness, flung her arms round his neck, and kissed him. "I love you," she murmured, blushing. "When I woke up and found you gone—it was dreadfully lonely." She had dropped into the somewhat babyish manner natural to any affectionate nature in certain moods and circumstances. It seemed especially natural to her, on account of her size and her exuberant gayety; and she had been assuming it with him in all its charming variations from the beginning of their engagement because it was the manner that pleased him best. "Next time, you’ll wake me and take me along—won’t you?"
He patted her. "Bless the baby! A lot of work I’d do."
"I’m going to help you. I can soon learn."
He shook his head in smiling negative. "You’re going to be the dearest, sweetest wife a man ever had," said he. "And always your womanly self."
"But," she persisted with an effort, "I can help. I’m sure I can." There was no trace of the "baby" in her expression now; on the contrary, her face and her voice were those of an extremely intelligent young woman, serious without the dreary, posed solemnity that passes current for seriousness, but is mere humorless asininity. "I really know something about chemistry," she went on. "I liked it, and took the courses both at high school and at college. Last winter I won a prize for original work." His smile made her color. "I don’t say that," she hastened to explain, "because I think I’m a wonderful chemist, but just to prove to you that I do know a little something—enough to be able to help in a humble sort of way."
His expression was still that of grown people when laughing at the antics of children, and concealing amusement behind a thin pretense of grave admiration. "Yes, I’ve no doubt you’re clever at it," said he. "But a refined woman oughtn’t to try to do the man sort of thing."