Page:Adams - A Child of the Age.djvu/193

Rh I put my hand over her mouth.

'But'

I pressed my hand closer.

'If,' I said, 'it 's your economical soul that's alarmed, know, my pippin, that there's no need for it. I'm not a forger. I'm not a beggar. I am an atheist. I am a liar. I told you that I had told you bushels of lies to-night, or rather, this morning.' I took down my hand, adding:

'Now don't ask more than twenty questions at a time, and I will do my best to explain matters.' I looked at her, and seeing her pretty puzzled face, laughed, and gave her a kiss sideways.

'You are mad!' she said.

'I am!' I answered, 'everybody's mad. And the maddest people of all are those that are most sane!'

 

favoured our flitting. We arrived at Charing Cross in good time for the train. I took two first-class tickets and tipped the guard heavily, for the privilege of having the compartment to ourselves. I lay back deep in my seat, with my feet up opposite me, full of thought, unobservant. Then I felt a hand steal into mine, and, looking up at a sweet anxious face, smiled, and said:

'Well, Rosy! Here we are, you see!'

'Yes,' she said, 'Here we are.'

'Are you sorry you came?' I asked.

'No, no! Not sorry.'

'Glad then?'

'I would be—if you'd speak to me!'

I drew down her face and kissed the cheek, and laughed a little.

Then she said:

'What were you thinking about all this long time, that you didn't say anything to me?'

'Well,' I said, 'among other things, about where we were to go to.'

'Yes,' she said.

