She sighed, as if she felt that he was trying her too hard, but she made no attempt to shake off his light hold. Through her thin sleeves she felt the warmth of his hands. She felt, too, the slight vibration which, now that she understood, indicated to her the curb that he was using. Suddenly she gave a little gasping laugh, flashing a glance up at him. "Osbert, if you know all about it, tell me--how does one fall in love?" "How?" he stammered, for a moment at a loss. "Why did you show me this?" she whispered, moving the least bit nearer to him, as she indicated the statue. "You mean me to see that love is--is a thing that masters you?" He signified assent without speech. "Well, well, master me, then! _Make me understand!_" He loosed her arms, to stretch out his own. With them thus, almost encircling her, but not touching her, he paused, searching her downbent face. "But the risk," he cried, "you might hate me!... And even this--even what I have endured since you came back to me, would be better than have you loathe me." "You can but try," she managed to stammer, with broken voice; and the words were stifled upon her lips by the pressure of his own, as he snatched her to his heart. This once only was his thought. This once, if never again! This once, even though she were merely passive, for such invitation could not be foregone. Nay, he must have yielded, even in face of her resistance ... but she did not resist. She lay at first passive in his hold, while he covered her face, her hair with kisses.... Then, when once more he touched her mouth, he could feel her response. She answered his lips with the free gift of her own. She gave him kiss for kiss ... and time slid out of sight for a while. * * * * * His first coherent words were something like these: "But it can't be. How could it be? How could any woman forgive what I made you endure? Even if I were an attractive man, instead of a lame bear." They were sitting side by side upon the Chesterfield, and as he spoke, Virginia raised her head from his shoulder and contemplated him. "It is curious," she replied, in tones of candid wonder, "but you know I always thought somehow that this might be. Only things were so strange afterwards, I never could be sure." "That sounds a bit cryptic," he commented, amused. "Can you explain?" She smiled with something like mischief. "Are you still certain that you know all about it and I nothing?" "All about what, in the name of all the elves?" "About falling in love." "I know nothing at all about it, except as a man who has tumbled down a precipice knows that he is down." "Well, I rather think that I am better informed. Shall I try to tell you about it? Quite a long story. I must be careful not to 'prattle.' Ah, Osbert, don't look so! You must let me tease." "Every time you stab me in the back like that you will have to pay for it in kisses."