For each it was the first kiss of the beloved, a greater joy than either had dreamed of, and therefore almost more pain than joy. Holding her to him, Bennett murmured:
And she gave little crooning sounds and was the first to kiss again.
Presently they crept back to the house and stole into the rooms again, Bennett looking more miserable and feeling more aloof than ever. Minna saw that Annette's roses were crushed, so that one of them had lost its petals. Annette's lips were red and her eyes shone with a new light. Bennett sought Minna and stood in silence by her side. Minna turned to him and said tartly:
"Annette is looking quite pretty to-night, isn't she?"
"I should advise you, as a friend, to make yourself very amiable to Ma."
"I have always," said Bennett, "had a great respect for Mrs. Folyat."
"Bah!" answered Minna. "You take yourself much too seriously. You'll never learn the wisdom of running away."
"Of course you did; because I never take you seriously."
"You never take anything seriously. Some day you'll have to."
"Pooh!" Minna tossed her head and laughed. "I shall always know when to run away."
Feeling that the remark was idiotic and inappropriate Bennett closed with:
"Great heavens! We shall have you writing poetry next!"
Bennett went very red. He had already written much poetry, as Minna well knew, for she had purloined and read many of his effusions to Gertrude. She wondered if it would be going too far to quote, decided that it would, and mentally adapted certain verses to meet the new circumstances.
Bennett was called away to take a hand at whist--he was a fair player--and to pass out of the room he had to go by Annette. He avoided looking at her, but she followed him with her eyes, and, turning, met Minna's gaze, curious and mischievous. Minna saw her expression harden into pride and defiance, and it was Minna who looked away.
The party was very late in breaking up, and as Bennett was putting on his overcoat Annette came and helped him. He turned to her and they smiled at each other. She said:
"Serge is going to make a picture of me. I begin to-morrow, at his studio."
Annette was called away by her mother, very peevish and anxious to go to bed. She caught Bennett's hand, pressed it to her bosom and ran away.