“Oh, yes. I guessed, vaguely. One can’t live in a little village without guessing some things.... Or on a farm without guessing the rest.... It’s best to know, always.... Lies shock me; but, do you know, truth never did. Truth has frightened me, disgusted, angered, saddened me. But it never shocked me yet.... I’m afraid you think me hardened----” His arm drew her and she turned swiftly to his lips--in full view of Hattie in the dining-room beyond. “I don’t care,” whispered Eris, her cheeks scarlet, “--she ought to guess what we are to each other by this time.” As he seated her he said: “If she does know she knows more than I do, Eris.... _What_ are we to each other?” He took his chair and she laughed at him. “I’m serious,” he repeated. “_What_ are we to each other?” “Darling! Are you trying to be funny?” “Not a bit. Please answer me, Eris.” “Ridiculum!” “Answer me!” “Why--why, you goose, we are in love with each other. Isn’t that the answer?” “Are you engaged to me?” “_Darling!_----” “_Are_ you?” “Why--no.” “Why not?” “You know one reason, anyway.” “You mean that fellow,” he said with a shrug. “Yes, of course.” They remained rather silent for a while. Presently he said: “Merely to be in love with each other doesn’t place either of us definitely.” “Place us?” she repeated, perplexed. “It places us with each other, doesn’t it?” “But not with the world.” She considered this while covers were removed and another course laid. “Darling, do you mind carving that chicken? If you don’t want to, Hattie can take it to the kitchen----” “Watch me,” he boasted, impaling the tender, roasted bird and shaving a smoking slice from its sternum. “Wonderful,” she murmured, clasping her snowy fingers; “he knows everything, does everything. And he asks me where it places him!... It places you, darling, like a god, under lock and key inside the secret shrine of my innermost heart.” “No,” he said, “that temple is already reserved. It’s occupied by the real and only god you worship.... The god of Work!” After a moment she raised her eyes, tenderly apprehensive: “I do love you, Barry.” “But you _worship_ the other one.... You can’t serve two gods.” “I worship you, too, whatever you say!” “I’m a minor deity compared to the great god Work.” “Darling--don’t speak that way--even in jest----” “I want a shrine for myself. I won’t interfere with the other god----” “--When I tell you you’re the only man in the world!----” “I want you to engage yourself to me. You can take your time about marrying me if you’re afraid it will spoil your career. But I want the world to know we’re engaged.” “Why, dear?” she asked in uneasy surprise. “Because that will place us both, definitely.” “Goodness,” she murmured uncertainly, “I didn’t suppose that falling in love was so complicated.... Darling! I haven’t time to--to find out how to get rid of that man, now; or do it, either----”