"What are you staring at, little ghost-seer?" he asked, passing his
hand under her arm; and stepped back, surprised, as she freed herself
with a quick, nervous movement, looked at him, then averted her head.
"What is the matter, Athalie?" he inquired.
"Nothing.... Don't touch me, Clive."
"No, of course not.... But what in the world--"
"Nothing.... Don't ask me." Presently he saw her very slowly move her
head and look back at the empty corner of the room; and remain so,
motionless for a moment. Then she turned with a sigh, came quietly to
him; and he drew her hand through his arm.
"Of what were you thinking, Athalie?"
"Of nothing."
"Did you think you saw something over there?"
She was silent.
"What were you looking at?" he insisted.
"Nothing.... I don't care to talk just now--"
"Tell me, Athalie!"
"No.... No, I don't want to, Clive--"
"I wish to know!"
"I can't--there is nothing to tell you--" she laid one hand on his
coat, almost pleadingly, and looked up at him out of eyes so dark
that only the starry light in them betrayed that they were blue and
not velvet black.
"That same thing has happened before," he said, looking at her, deeply
perplexed. "Several times since I have known you the same expression
has come into your face--as though you were looking at something
which--"
"Please don't, Clive!--"
"--Which," he insisted, "I did not see.... Could not see!"
"Clive!"
He stared at her rather blankly: "Why don't you tell me?"
"I--can't!"
"Is there anything--"
"Don't! Don't!" she begged; but he went on, still staring at her: "Is there any reason for you to--not to be frank with me? Is there,
Athalie?"
"No; no reason.... I'll tell you ... if you will understand. Must I
tell you?"
"Yes."
Her head fell; she stood plucking nervously at his fur coat for a
while in silence. Then: "Clive, I--I see clearly."
"What?"
"I mean that I see a--a little more clearly than--some do. Do you
understand?"
"No."
She sighed, stood twisting her white-gloved fingers, looking away from
him.
"I am clairvoyant," she breathed.
"Athalie! You?"
She nodded.
For a second or two he stood silent in his astonishment; then, taking
her hand, he drew her around facing the light, and she looked up at
him in her lovely abashed way, yet so honestly, that anybody who could
recognise truth and candour, could never have mistaken such eyes as
hers.