Page:The Other House (London, William Heinemann, 1896), Volume 1.djvu/66

52 ears. But there's something you put into it that they—out there, stupid things!—couldn't. Don't 'size me up' so," he continued smiling; "you make me nervous about what I may seem to come to!"

They had both shown shyness, but Rose's was already gone. She kept her inclined position and her folded arms; supported by the back of the sofa, her head preserved, toward the side on which he sat, its charming contemplative turn. "I'm only thinking," she said, "that you look young just as a steel instrument of the best quality, no matter how much it's handled, often looks new."

"Ah, if you mean I'm kept bright by use!" the young man laughed.

"You're polished by life."

"'Polished' is delightful of you!"

"I'm not sure you've come back handsomer than you went," said Rose, "and I don't know if you've come back richer."

"Then let me immediately tell you I have!" Dennis broke in.

She received the announcement, for a minute, in silence: a good deal more passed between this pair