“I really think that I shall--one day. There is nothing like getting used to an idea. I thought that I should never get reconciled to the notion of a lover--a lover seems so _banal_--and yet already I--yes, I like it. You see, I’m wondering what will come of it. I was born in a laboratory atmosphere. My father made his first great discovery in electricity the day I was born--that’s why he called me Amber--Amber is the English for the Greek word _electron_, and that’s the origin of the word electricity, you know.” He looked at her admiringly. “You don’t need much to go to any school,” said he. “Just fancy your knowing all that! By the way, don’t you forget that it’s in the bargain that I’m to let you know if I find myself properly in love with you--seriously, I mean.” “It will be so interesting,” said she. “I’m dying to see what will be the result of our experiment. I wonder does it matter about my not thinking you good-looking.” He caught her hand. She flushed. “Do you not think me good-looking?” he asked. “Well, really, to be candid with you--and of course it’s in the ‘rules’ that we are both to be candid, I think you anything but--but--good gracious! what has come over me? Only yesterday I was thinking about you and I thought of you as being quite plain; but now--now that I come to look at you, I declare that you seem good-looking--positively good-looking! You have good eyes. I don’t suppose you ever told a lie in your life.” “That’s going from a question of eyes to ethics, isn’t it; but whether or not I ever had imagination enough to tell a whopper, I am telling the truth now when I say that I have come to the conclusion that you are the nicest girl I ever met as well as being the most beautiful--that’s why I tried to. You see I always thought you the most beautiful--that’s why I tried to avoid meeting you for a long time--I was afraid that I would be disillusioned, as they call it.” “And you were not?” “On the contrary I think that--that we’re on the eve of a very interesting experiment--that’s how the newspapers would define the situation of the moment.” “After all nothing may come of it.” There was a suspicion of a sigh in her delivery of the phrase. “Are you taking what you would call an optimistic view of the matter?” he asked. She actually flushed again--very slightly--as she said: “The scientific atmosphere in which I was born forbids optimism or pessimism. I wish to remain neutral.” “I shall make no attempt to bias your judgment one way or another,” said he. Lady Severn returned to the room and gave her daughter her instructions regarding the silks. “I wish you would let me do it for you, Lady Severn,” said Lord Lullworth seriously. “I have to go to Bond Street anyway, and my horse wants exercise.” Amber turned round and stared at him; her mother laughed. Then Amber put the patterns of silk into one of his hands, and crying, “Let him do it: he really wants to do it,” she ran out of the room.