He petted and soothed her, kissing the back of her neck and her dust-coloured curls, murmuring absurd, infantile phrases. Presently he whispered: “D’you love me?” Elsie laughed and would not answer, and he struggled with her playfully, pulling her about, and grasping at her with his big hands. After the horse-play, she put both arms round his neck and lay still. “I want to know something,” said Doctor Woolley slowly. “What’s that?” “Don’t you know more than a good little girl ought to know?” “What about?” “About--life. About being kissed, for instance. I’m not the first, my girl, not by a long, long way. You’re the sort that begins early, _I_ know.” “You’ve a nerve!” Elsie ejaculated, not knowing what to say. “Well, it’s true what I’m saying, isn’t it? I mean, you’ve let fellows kiss you?” “Just boys, perhaps.” “Hasn’t anyone taught you anything besides kissing, eh?” “Of course not! What do you take me for, I’d like to know? Mother brought up me and my sister like ladies, let me tell you. Besides, I don’t know what you’re driving at, I’m sure.” “Yes, you do.” “No, I don’t.” “Then I’ll show you.” “No!” screamed Elsie in a sudden, only half-assumed, panic. She sprang up, but he pulled her back again. “You silly little fool! You don’t suppose I’d really say or do anything to frighten you, do you? Why, you’re much too precious.” He kissed her again and again. “Tell me one thing, though. You did know what I meant, didn’t you?” “I suppose so.” “Of course you did! A girl like you couldn’t help knowing. My God, I wish I’d known you ten years ago. I wasn’t married then.” “You oughtn’t to talk like that.” “Why not? It’s true. Amy’s as cold as ice--not a real woman at all. And she’s as jealous as the devil. I’ve always wondered why she let anyone like you come into the house at all. It’s a miracle she hasn’t spotted us yet.” “It’d be all up with me being here if she did,” said Elsie shrewdly. “If you go, I swear I’ll go with you,” said Doctor Woolley, but he said it without conviction, and Elsie knew it. “Can’t do without you, little one, at any price, now. But you’ve got to be even sweeter than you’ve been to me yet.” Elsie shivered a little, excited and disturbed, and in part genuinely shocked. “When will you, Elsie?” His breath on her neck was hot and hurried. She jumped off his knee. “Oh, look, it’s getting on for half-past six! You’ll have to be off.” “Come back! You haven’t told me what I want to know yet.” He grabbed at her dress. “Listen!” cried Elsie. In the second during which he turned, arrested, she slipped out of the room. Her heart was beating very fast, and her face burning. She half expected him to follow her, but he did not do so; and she was partly relieved and partly disappointed.