Between kisses she giggled. “Well, I’m not! . . . I just said you were as sweet as a baby. . . . I’d like to kiss you a hundred times without stopping!” Moving her head from side to side that her lips brushed his, she whispered: “I’m so glad you’re new at this . . . !” “Time’s up!” cried Wilfred, flinging his arms around her. Deprived of any prop, they toppled over on the rug. “You weren’t good!” he murmured accusingly. “You began it! That lets me out! What do you think a man is made of? . . . Oh, you darling . . . !” “Oh, Wilfred, don’t!” she begged in a panic. “Please, _please_ darling Wilfred! You’re so much stronger than I! _Please_ let me up! Let me out of this room . . . !” Gathering her up in his arms, Wilfred carried her to the couch. Clinging to him, she continued to protest. “Please, _please_ Wilfred! Let me up . . . ! I demand that you open that door! . . . Oh, Wilfred, I’m so ashamed. I can’t bear to look at you . . . !” “That’s easy fixed,” he said, laughing. He reached over their heads, and turned out the light. * * * * * In the small hours the three friends were making their way back across Washington Square arm in arm, Wilfred in the middle. Wilfred was too much excited to seek his bed; he had offered to see his two friends home. Jasper’s face wore a sleepy smile; but Stanny looked disgruntled. On this night he had had no luck. Wilfred’s turgid feelings almost strangled utterance. “By God! but you fellows are dear to me!” he cried, pressing their arms against his ribs. “What would I do without you? I suppose I’m drunk. When I froth up like this I know I make a fool of myself. I don’t care. I’ve got to tell you how I feel. . . . I’ve been as miserable as hell lately. Well, that’s over. I’ve made a stage. . . . You think and think and get nowhere. No fixed point! Like a squirrel in a revolving cage! Like a nebula in the ether!—That’s damn good, you fellows. . . . Nebula in the ether! . . . For once I have forgotten myself! It’s astonishing. By letting everything go I caught hold of something solid. There is such a thing as joy! Oh, Heaven, it makes up for everything! There is beauty. . . . Oh my God! but life is good! I wouldn’t change with God to-night . . . !” “Oh, for God’s sake!” said Stanny. “One would think you were the first male!” So comic was this explosion of disgust, that Jasper and Wilfred stood still and roared with laughter. Stanny punched them, laughing, too. A tension was relieved. They continued skylarking on their way. PART FOUR: LOVERS PART FOUR I