"Give me about five weeks--say till the Whitsuntide recess." "Five weeks are a great deal," smiled Nick. "There are things to be done--you ought to understand." "I only understand how I love you." She let herself go--"Dearest Nick!"--and he caught her and kept her in his arms. "I've your promise then for five weeks hence to a day?" he demanded as she at last released herself. "We'll settle that--the exact day; there are things to consider and to arrange. Come to luncheon to-morrow." "I'll come early--I'll come at one," he said; and for a moment they stood all deeply and intimately taking each other in. "Do you think I _want_ to wait, any more than you?" she asked in congruity with this. "I don't feel so much out of it now!" he declared by way of answer. "You'll stay of course now--you'll give up your visits?" She had hold of the lappet of his coat; she had kept it in her hand even while she detached herself from his embrace. There was a white flower in his buttonhole that she looked at and played with a moment before she said; "I've a better idea--you needn't come to Griffin. Stay in your studio--do as you like--paint dozens of pictures." "Dozens? Barbarian!" Nick wailed. The epithet apparently had an endearing suggestion for her; it at any rate led her to let him possess himself of her head and, so holding it, kiss her--led her to say: "What on earth do I want but that you should do absolutely as you please and be as happy as you can?" He kissed her in another place at this; but he put it to her; "What dreadful proposition is coming now?" "I'll go off and do up my visits and come back." "And leave me alone?" "Don't be affected! You know you'll work much better without me. You'll live in your studio--I shall be well out of the way." "That's not what one wants of a sitter. How can I paint you?" "You can paint me all the rest of your life. I shall be a perpetual sitter." "I believe I could paint you without looking at you"--and his lighted face shone down on her. "You do excuse me then from those dreary places?" "How can I insist after what you said about the pleasure of keeping these days?" she admirably--it was so all sincerely--asked. "You're the best woman on earth--though it does seem odd you should rush away as soon as our little business is settled." "We shall make it up. I know what I'm about. And now go!" She ended by almost pushing him out of the room. XXIII