"Do you notice that the grapes on the trellis are turning dark? And the peaches are becoming so big and heavy and rosy. They will be ripe before very long." "You must have a greenhouse," he said. "_We_ must," she admitted demurely. He turned toward her with much of his old gaiety, laughing: "Do you know," he said, "I believe you are pretending to be in love with me!" "That's all it is, Clive, just pretence, and the natural depravity of a flirt. When I go back to town I'll forget you ever existed--unless you go with me." "I'm wondering," he said, "what we had better do in town." "I'm not wondering; I know." He looked at her questioningly. Then she told him about her visit to Michael and the apartment. "There is no other place in the world that I care to live in--excepting this," she said. "Couldn't we live there, Clive, when we go to town?" After a moment he said: "Yes." "Would you care to?" she asked wistfully. Then smiled as she met his eyes. "So I shall give up business," she said, "and that tower apartment. There's a letter here now asking if I desire to sublet it; and as I had to renew my lease last June, that is what I shall do--if you'll let me live in the place you made for me so long ago." He answered, smilingly, that he might be induced to permit it. Hafiz appeared, inquisitive, urbane, waving his snowy tail; but he was shy of further demonstrations toward the man who was seated beside his beloved mistress, and he pretended that he saw something in the obscurity of the flowering thickets, and stalked it with every symptom of sincerity. "That cat must be about six years old," said Clive, watching him. "He plays like a kitten, still." "Do you remember how he used to pat your thread with his paws when you were sewing." "I remember," she said, smiling. A little later Hafiz regained confidence in Clive and came up to rub against his legs and permit caresses. "Such a united family," remarked Athalie, amused by the mutual demonstrations. "How is Henry?" he asked. "Fatter and slower than ever, dear. He suits my unenterprising disposition to perfection. Now and then he condescends to be harnessed and to carry me about the landscape. But mostly he drags the cruel burden of Connor's lawn-mower. Do you think the place looks well kept?" "I knew you wanted to be flattered," he laughed. "I do. Flatter me please." "It's one of the best things I do, Athalie! For example--the lawn, the cat, and the girl are all beautifully groomed; the credit is yours; and you're a celestial dream too exquisite to be real." "I am becoming real--as real as you are," she said with a faint smile. "Yes," he admitted, "you and I are the only real things in the world after all. The rest--woven scenes that come and go moving across a loom." She quoted: