A triumphant glory flashed in her eyes--her red lips parted in a ravishing smile.
"You cannot help it!" she repeated--"That little white lady--that friend of yours whom you hate and love at the same time!--she told me I was 'quite beautiful!' I know I am!--and you know it too!"
He bent his eyes upon her gravely.
"I have always known it--yes!"--he said, then paused--"Dear child, beauty is nothing--"
She made a swift step towards him and laid a hand on his arm. Her ardent, glowing face was next to his.
"You speak not truly!" and her voice was tremulous--"To a man it is everything!"
Her physical fascination was magnetic, and for a moment he had some trouble to resist its spell. Very gently he put an arm round her,--and with a tender delicacy of touch unfastened the rose she wore at her bosom.
"There, dear!" he said--"I will keep this with me for company! It is like you--except that it doesn't talk and doesn't ask for love--"
"It has it without asking!" she murmured.
He smiled.
"Has it? Well,--perhaps it has!" He paused--then stooping his tall head kissed her once on the lips as a brother might have kissed her. "And perhaps--one day--when the right man comes along, you will have it too!"