"I'll make us some when I get home out of white cloud and lilies and sunshine and a bit of the blue sky." Laughter fluttered through her veins. Yesterday she had teasingly boasted to Katherine that Austin was in love with her. Now she knew it. He proclaimed it in a thousand ways. A note of exultation in his laugh, like that in a blackbird's call, alone proclaimed it. Instinct told her of harmless words she might use which would bring the plain avowal. But the hour was too delicate. As yet nothing was demanded. All was given. Her woman's vanity blossomed deliciously in the atmosphere of a man's love. Her heart had not yet received the inevitable summons to respond. She left it, careless in the gay hands of summer. When they drew up before the front door of Ware House he lifted her from the dog-cart and set her laughing on her feet. "How strong you are," she cried. "I'm not a giant, like Dick," said he, "but I'm strong enough to do what I like with a bit of a thing like you." She entered the hall and glanced at him provokingly over her shoulder. "Don't be too sure of that." "Whatever I like," he repeated, striding towards her. But Viviette laughed, and fled lightly up the stairs, and on the landing blew him an ironical kiss from her finger tips. When Viviette came down for lunch, she found Dick awaiting her in the hall. With a lowering face he watched her descend and, his hand on the newel, confronted her. "Well?" said he indignantly. "Well?" she said, cheerfully smiling. "What have you got to say for yourself?" "Lots of things. I had a lovely drive. I got through all my business, and I have a beautiful appetite. I also don't like standing on a stair." At her look he drew aside and let her pass into the hall. "You promised to drive with me," he said, following her to a chair in which she sat. "Driving with me is no great catch, perhaps; but a promise is a promise." "You were late," said Viviette. "My mother kept me--some silly nonsense about vegetables. You must have known it was something I couldn't help." "I really don't see why you're so angry, Dick," she said, lifting candid eyes. "I explained why we had gone in my note." "I didn't read the note," said Dick wrath-fully. "A thousand notes couldn't have explained it. I tore the note into little pieces." Viviette rose. "If that's the way you treat me," she said, piqued, "I have nothing more to say to you." "It's the way you're treating me," he cried, with a clumsy man's awkward attempt at gesture. "I know I'm not clever. I know I can't talk to you as sweetly as other people; but I'm not a dog, and I deserve some consideration. Perhaps, after all, I might have the brains to jest and toss about words and shoot off epigrams. I'll try, if you like. Let us see. Here. A man who entrusts his heart to a woman has a jade for his banker. That's devilish smart, isn't it. Now then--there must be some repartee to it. What is it?"