While Wilfred laughed with her, the sweetness of her struck through his body like a dagger. She exercised at once the charm of a child and of a woman. If she had been really grown-up, he would have been terrified of her, but she was a child at heart, and Wilfred was all right with children. At the same time, notwithstanding her dawn-freshness, she was a woman more experienced than himself. He did not have to remember to spare her. Something set the crowd rampaging up the stairs again. Perhaps there were others who took advantage of the dark halls. Wilfred detained Mildred at the bottom. “Let them go,” he whispered; “they’re so noisy. Let’s you and I go into my room where it’s quiet.” “Oh, no!” said Mildred. “Not in there with you alone!” “Oh,” said Wilfred, immediately cast down. They hung unhappily at the bottom step. “_Please_ come,” he begged. “I will if you promise to be good.” “I’ll be as good as I can.” They ran into Wilfred’s room. He closed the door, and slid the bolt. “Oh, you mustn’t do that!” cried Mildred. He told himself that her words didn’t signify anything. He believed that her lips were hungry for his. Wine had turned them crimson. So he merely looked at her, and walked away from the door. She avoided his look. They drifted to the worn bearskin in front of the fire, and sat down upon it, not touching each other. Now that they were alone together, behind the bolted door, constraint afflicted them again. They stared into the fire. Wilfred had a sense that precious moments were being wasted. Finally Mildred said primly: “You have a nice room.” “Like it?” said Wilfred. “It’s nice to have your own place.” “I came in here once with Bella, when you were out,” she confessed. “Did you?” he said delighted. “I wanted to see if there were any pictures of girls about.” “What did you care?” “Oh, girls are always curious about a boy like you. You never give yourself away.” Delicious flattery! “Well, there are no pictures.” “Oh, I expect you’ve got them put away.” “No. I don’t know any girls.” “Well all I can say is, you’re pretty cheeky for a beginner!” Wilfred felt bold and masterful again. “That is because you sweep me off my feet,” he said. He leaned towards her, bringing his face very close to hers. How enchanting it was to remain like that, without actually touching her. What a strange, strong current passed into him from her! “You have put a spell on me!” he faltered. “Promise me to stay quite still for a minute,” she whispered. “What for?” “Just because I ask you to.” “Well . . . I promise.” She caught his face between her two hands. “I want to kiss you all by myself,” she murmured. “In my way.” Wilfred closed his eyes. “I’ll try to endure it,” he whispered. “Lots of times. . . . Lots of times!” she crooned. “Ah, you’re so sweet! You’re as sweet as a baby!” Wilfred received this with mixed feelings. “I don’t want to be kissed like a baby . . . !”