It was extraordinary how his world brightened. The ache had gone out of it Finances, work, nothing mattered. The future withdrew its threat “I’m wearing my Nell Gwynn face,” she laughed as he took her hands. Then they stood together silent, careless of strangers passing, smiling into each other’s eyes. “You silly Meester Deek,” she whispered, “why did you keep away if you wanted me so badly?” “Because----” and there he ended. He couldn’t speak to her of the ugliness they had seen together; she looked so girlish and innocent and fresh. It was hateful that they should share such a memory. “I’m not proud when I’ve done wrong,” she said. Her eyes winked and twinkled beneath their lashes. “And it’s rather fun to have to ask forgiveness when you know you’ve been forgiven beforehand.” He led her into the white room with its many mirrors. Quickly forestalling the waiter, he helped her off with her furs and jacket. She glanced up at him as he did it. “Rather mean of you to do the poor man out of that It’s about the nearest a waiter ever comes to romance.” When he had taken his seat opposite to her, she questioned him, “Why did you act so queerly?” “Queerly!” “You know. After the night before last?” He wished she would let him forget it “I thought you might not want me.” “Want you!” She reached across the table and touched his hand. “You do think unkind thoughts. If I did say something cruel, it wasn’t meant--not in my heart I’m afraid you think I’m fickle.” He delayed her hand as she was withdrawing it “If I did, I shouldn’t love you the way I do, Princess.” A waiter intruded to take their order. It seemed to Teddy that ever since Long Beach, waiters had been clearing away his tenderest passages as though it were as much a part of their duties as to change the courses. When they were left alone, she brought matters to a head. “I suppose you got that strange notion because--because of what I said. Poor King! He did make me angry, and yesterday he came to us so penitent and sorry. We had to forgive him.--You’re looking as though you thought we oughtn’t But it doesn’t do to be harsh. We all slip up sooner or later, and the day’s always coming when we’ll have to ask forgiveness ourselves.” He stared at her in undisguised amazement Was this merely carelessness or a charity so divine that it knew no bounds? “Oh, I know what you’re thinking,” she continued; “you’re thinking we’re lax. That’s what people thought about Jesus when he talked to the woman of Samaria. Mr. Dak’s quite a good little man, if he did make a mistake. He’s always been understanding until this happened.” She described as a mistake something that had appealed to him as tragedy. Had her innocence prevented her from guessing the truth? Perhaps it was he who was distorting facts.