Page:Neith Boyce--The bond.djvu/34

32 feel lost in this tremendous whirl. It makes somehow my troubles seem small and my—happiness great."

"Dearest—you're happy then?" Basil said tenderly, half-startled.

"I'm perfectly happy. I keep wondering what will happen to spoil it all. … Someone will take you away from me!"

He laughed out at that.

"If you cared half as seriously for me as I do for you!"

But suddenly she trembled in his clasp, and hid her face on his shoulder, tilting her big hat over one ear.

"Teresa! You strange child! What is the matter with you to-day? " he cried, trying to see her eyes.

"No—nothing—let me alone," she said imperiously, though in a stifled voice. And she clung to him silent for some moments. Then she sat up, put her hat straight, and cried joyously:

"We've gone too far—stop the thing!"

Basil stopped it, and Teresa jumped gaily down the steps.

"It lasted after all!" she cried. "I always feel things are going to fall to pieces—what a relief when they don't! … I thought our dinner was going to be spoiled, but now it isn't, and you shall tell me all about your Mrs. Perry."