Chrystie experienced a feeling of astonishment, mixed with an uplifting exaltation. Staring before her she struggled to adjust the familiar sense of her shortcomings with this revelation of herself as a creature of compelling charm. She was so thrilled she forgot her pose and murmured incredulously, "Really?" "Very really. Why are you so modest, little Miss Alston?" "I didn't know I was." "Wonderfully so--amazingly so. But perhaps it's part of you. It is so sometimes with a beautiful woman." "Beautiful? Oh, no, Mr. Mayer." "Oh, yes, Miss Alston." Chrystie began to feel as if she was coming to life after a long period of deadness. She had a consciousness of sudden growth, of expanding and outflowering, of bursting into glowing bloom. A smile that she tried to repress broke out on her lips, the repression causing it to be one-sided, which gave it piquancy. She was invaded by a heady sense of exhilaration and a new confidence, daring, almost reckless. It made it possible for her to quell a rush of embarrassment and lead the conversation like a woman of the world: "You're mistaken about my being modest. Everybody who knows me well says I'm spoiled." "Who's spoiled you?" "Lorry and Aunt Ellen and Fong." She gave him a quick side glance, met his eyes, and they both laughed, a light-hearted mingling of treble and bass. The Italian women breathed deeply on their bench, aware that the interchanged glances and chimed laughter had advanced the romance on its happy way. "Three people can't do any serious spoiling--there should be at least four. Who's Fong?" "Our Chinaman; he's been with us for centuries." "Let me make the fourth. Put me on the list." "I think you've put yourself there without being invited. Since we sat down you've done nothing but pay me compliments." "Never mind that. Here's a sensible suggestion: I'll judge myself if you're spoiled and if I think you are I won't pay you one more. Isn't that fair?" "I think so." "Very well. Of course I must know you better, have a talk with you before I can be sure. How can we arrange that? Ah--I have it! Some bright afternoon like this we might take a walk together." "Yes, we could do that." "We might go to the park--it's wonderful there on days like this." She nodded and said slowly, "And we could take Lorry." "To be sure, if she'd care to come." There was a slight pause and he saw by her profile there was doubt in her mind. "I don't know about her caring. Lorry doesn't like walking much." "Then why ask her to do it?" She stroked her muff, evidently discomfited. "Well, you see, it's this way, I don't think Lorry'd like me to go with you alone." "But why?" He drew himself up from the bench's back, his tone surprised, slightly offended. "Surely having invited me to her house, she could have no objection to my going for a stroll with you?"