"Well, here I am," he said, in a manner intended by its commonplace to rebuff the significance, whatever it might be, of eyes, dress, and attitude. Camelia took his hand, joyously entering once more into the dear, enchanted fairy-land--the old sense of a game, only a more delightful, a more exciting game than ever. She could almost have whirled him into the circle--a mad dancing whirl round and round the room. How astonished he would have been! Solemn, staid old Alceste!
"Yes, here you are. At last," she said. "How shamefully you have punished me this time!"
"I haven't been punishing you," he said, walking away to the fireplace. Camelia followed him and watched him hold out his hand to the warmth.
"Very chilly; the wind catches one on that mile along the common. My hands are half-numbed." Prettily, as she leaned in her illumined whiteness beside him, she took his hands between her own and rubbed them briskly.
"You wrote that you were unhappy," said Perior, looking down at the daintily imprisoned hands; "what is the matter?"
"The telling will keep. I am happier now."
"Did you get me here on false pretences?" He smiled as he now looked at her, and the smile forgave her in advance.
"No, no. I needed you very much; really I did. I am growing melancholy; and I was all alone. I hate being alone."
"There, that will do. They are quite warm now; thanks very much. Where are the others?"
"The others? They are away," said Camelia vaguely.
"And Henge?" Perior asked it with a little hesitation. Of late he had wondered much about Arthur and Camelia. There was an effort in the unconscious aloofness of his voice.
"In London too." Camelia looked clearly at him. No, she would not tell him now. The happy half-hour she must guard for them both. Her oblivion, his ignorance, would make a fairy-land. Let him think even that she had sent Arthur away finally. Arthur had no place in fairy-land.
"All the others are out," she repeated, "golfing, calling, driving. But are you not glad to see me, even if I seem happier than strict consistency requires?"
"Yes, I am glad to see you." Perior's eyes showed the half-yielding, half-defiance of his perplexity. "But tell me, what is the matter? Don't be so mysterious."