She said: "I begin to think that there are two Kellys--no, _one_ Kelly and _one_ Louis. Kelly is familiar to me; I seem to have known him all my life--the happy part of my life. Louis I have just seen for the first time--there at the easel, painting, peering from me to his canvas with Kelly's good-looking eyes all narrow with worry--" "What on earth are you chattering about, Valerie?" "You and Kelly.... I don't quite know which I like best--the dear, sweet, kind, clever, brilliant, impersonal, god-like Kelly, or this new Louis--so very abrupt in speaking to me--" "Valerie, dear! Forgive me. I'm out of sorts somehow. It began--I don't know--waiting for you--wondering if you could be ill--all alone. Then that ass, Sam Ogilvy--oh, it's just oversmoking I guess, or--I don't know what." She sat regarding him, head tipped unconsciously on one side in an attitude suggesting a mind concocting malice. "Louis?" "What?" "You're very attractive when you're god-like--" "You little wretch!" "But--you're positively dangerous when you're human." "Valerie! I'll--" "The great god Kelly, or the fascinating, fearsome, erring Louis! Which is it to be? I've an idea that the time is come to decide!" [Illustration: "'I _will_ call you a god if I like!'"] Fairly radiating a charming aura of malice she sat back, nursing one knee, distractingly pretty and defiant, saying: "I _will_ call you a god if I like!" "I'll tell you what, Valerie," he said, half in earnest; "I've played grandmother to you long enough, by Heck!" "Oh, Kelly, be lofty and Olympian! Be a god and shame the rest of us!" "I'll shamefully resemble one of 'em in another moment if you continue tormenting me!" "Which one, great one?" "Jupiter, little lady. He was the boss philanderer you know." "What is a philanderer, my Olympian friend?" "Oh, one of those Olympian divinities who always began the day by kissing the girls all around." "Before breakfast?" "Certainly." "It's--after breakfast, Kelly." "Luncheon and dinner still impend." "Besides--I'm not a bit lonely to-day.... I'm afraid I wouldn't let you, Kel--I mean Louis." "Why didn't you say 'Kelly'?" "Kelly is too god-like to kiss." "Oh! So _that's_ the difference! Kelly isn't human; Louis is." "Kelly, to me," she admitted, "is practically kissless.... I haven't thought about Louis in that regard." "Consider the matter thoroughly." "Do you wish me to?" She bent her head, smiling. Then, looking up with enchanting audacity: "I really don't know, Mr. Neville. Some day when I'm lonely--and if Louis is at home and Kelly is out--you and I might spend an evening together on a moonlit lake and see how much of a human being Louis can be." She laughed, watching him under the dark lashes, charming mouth mocking him in every curve. "Do you think you're likely to be lonely to-night?" he asked, surprised at the slight acceleration of his pulses.