"Dominic Iglesias," she cried suddenly, sharply, "I am tired of waiting." He crossed the room and stood in front of her, serious but light of heart. "See here, it is all right between us?" she asked imperatively. "Yes, all is perfectly right between us," he answered. "Your coming gives me the measure of your faith in me. I am grateful and I am very glad." "Ah!" Poppy said softly. She sat forward in her chair, making herself small, patting her hands together, palm to palm, between her knees, and swaying a little as she spoke. "You see," she went on, "to be quite honest, I didn't break with Alaric simply to enable him to marry and live happy ever after. Nor did I do it exclusively to please Fallowfeild. It would take a greater fool than I am to be as altruistic as all that. I always like to have my run for my money. I--I did it more to get you back." She paused and raised her head, looking full at him. "And I have got you back?" she said. "Yes," he answered, smiling. "I ask nothing better than to come back." "Do you mean that you are prepared to take everything on trust--after what I have just told you--without wanting explanations?" "Friendship has no need of explanations," Iglesias said, with a touch of grandeur--"that is, as I understand friendship. It accepts what is given without question, or cavilling as to much or to little, leaving the giver altogether free. Friendship, as I understand it, should have honourable reticences, not only of speech but of thought; wise economies of proffered sympathy. In its desire of service it should never approach too near or say the word too much; since, if it is to flourish and obtain the grace of continuance, it must be rooted in reverence for the individuality of the person dear to it. This is my belief." His bearing was courtly, his expression very gentle. "Therefore rest assured that whatever confidence you repose in me is sacred. Whatever confidence you withhold from me is sacred likewise." Poppy mused a little, a smile on her lips and an enigmatic look in her singular eyes. "You're beautiful, dear man," she murmured. "You're very beautiful. You're worth chucking the devil over for; but you'll take a jolly lot of living up to. So see here, you're bound to look me up pretty constantly just at first, for I tell you life is not going to be exactly a toy-shop for me for some little time to come. You hear? You promise?" "I promise," Iglesias returned.