He thought a moment, then slowly turned toward her a sober and youthful face, from which all humor had departed; and she looked back at him out of grave young eyes that met his very sweetly, but inexorably.
He said, partly to himself: "I had not noticed it."
"I have. It's a woman's business to notice such things. Otherwise, she'll find herself in trouble.... Inclination is a silly guide, Jack."
"For--us both.... I will be frank with you all the way through. I do like you. I enjoy our tête-à-têtes. They are perfectly honest and harmless, and without significance--the significance, alas, that others will surely attach to them.... It isn't that there's anything wrong with you and me, Jack.... It's the World that is wrong.... But--it's the World; and you and I must conform to its prejudices as long as we inhabit it--at least _I_ must."
"I suppose you must," he said. Then, leaning a little nearer, he took her hand, held it lightly across his palm, looked at it a moment, then at her.
"Will you let me tell father and mother that I am in love with you, and wish to marry you?" he said.
"No, I won't! ... Jack! Don't be foolish. I had no idea you had arrived as far as that. I had no reason to think so--to suppose for one moment--because it has always been the jolliest and most unsentimental--and--you never even touched me before."
Her color brightened, and her breath came irregularly. She tried to laugh, and failed.
"You know perfectly well that they have other ambitions for you."
"I know.... How is it with you, Silvette?"
"I--I haven't even thought about such a--I haven't really, Jack. You know that, don't you? You must try to look back on our very brief friendship--try to recollect how brief it has been--try to remember--remember how happy and amusing and confident that friendship has been--with no suspicion of sentiment to embarrass or vex----"
"I know.... Isn't there any hope for me?"
"Hope? No.... Don't put it that way, Jack.... I _don't_ love you.... I oughtn't to, and, thank Heaven, I don't. And you don't really love me--you dear, sweet fellow! It's just part of your niceness--your generous attitude toward a girl----"
"I'm in love with you.... But that mustn't worry you. It had to be. You need feel no self-reproach. You didn't do anything--you were just yourself--and I"--he laughed a little--"started in to love you as soon as I saw you.... I'm glad you know it, anyway. We won't say anything more about it----"