“I think you’re still a King Arthur or else--you wouldn’t have objected to Fluffy, and you wouldn’t have made such a mess about recognizing me.” Stung by the old taunt he grew reckless. “I did tell you. You heard what I said, but you tricked me by pretending you were sleeping.” “A Sir Launcelot wouldn’t have, been put off by pretense. He’d have shaken me by the shoulders. Oh, don’t look hurt. Let’s talk of something else. What d’you suppose I’ve been doing with myself?” As they drove through the morning country, between hedges cool with dew and fragrant with opening flowers, she told him. “After my father had kidnaped me” (so she knew that Hal was her father!) “my beautiful mother took me to America. Sometimes we traveled in Europe, but she was afraid to bring me to England so long as I was little. This summer’s the first time I’ve been back. She let me come with Fluffy. I’m going to be an actress--going to start next fall in New York, I expect, if my mother allows me. Fluffy’s promised to help. She’s a star. Janice Audrey’s her real name. You must have heard of her. No! Oh, well, she’s quite famous, even if you haven’t. So you see why it’s so important for me to sail with her.” “You’re not going to sail with her.” “I am.” She caught her breath and gazed at him wonderingly. “How foolish of you! That’s why we’ve driven all night, and----” “You’re not going to now.” She threw herself back in the seat a little contemptuously. “It’s nonsense to discuss it. I’d like to know what makes you say it.” “Because----- It’s difficult to tell you. Because I couldn’t bear to lose you the moment we’ve met. I don’t think--well, of course, you can’t understand what you’ve been in my life. Don’t laugh, Desire; I’m not flirting--not exaggerating. I’ve always believed that I’d find you. I’ve lived for that. I’ve worked, and tried to be famous and worthy so that--so that you’d like me. I had an idea that somewhere, far out in the world, you were thinking of me and waiting for me.” He glanced at her shyly. “Were you?” She was sitting motionless, staring ahead. “Were you?” Tears came into her eyes. “It’s very beautiful--what you’ve told me. It makes me feel---- Oh, I don’t know--that I wish I were better. You see, you’ve thought of me as a dream-person, as some one very wonderful. I’m only a reality--an ordinary girl with a little cleverness, who wants to be an actress. Yes, I’ve thought about you sometimes. Mother and I have often talked about you--but not in the way you mean, I expect.” He thrilled. She had thought about him. She owned it “You couldn’t be better than you are,” he whispered. She shook her head. “You haven’t known me long enough. I’m disappointing.” He smiled incredulously.