Page:The Wings of the Dove (New York, Charles Scribners Sons, 1902), Volume 2.djvu/80

 I've told her everything. She's in possession of reasons which will perfectly do."

Still he just brooded. "She takes things from you exactly as I do?"

"Exactly as you do."

"She's just such another victim?"

"Just such another. You're a pair."

"Then if anything happens," said Densher, "we can console each other?"

"Ah, something may indeed happen," she exclaimed, "if you'll only go straight!"

He watched the others an instant through the window. "What do you mean by going straight?"

"Not worrying. Doing as you like. Try, as I've told you before, and you'll see. You'll have me perfectly, always, to refer to."

"Oh, rather, I hope! But if she's going away?"

It pulled Kate up but a moment. "I'll bring her back. There you are. You won't be able to say that I've not made it smooth for you."

He faced it all, and certainly it was queer. But it was not the queerness that, after another minute, was uppermost. He was in a wondrous silken web, and it was amusing. "You spoil me!"

He was not sure if Mrs. Lowder, who at this juncture reappeared, had caught his word as it dropped from him; probably not, he thought, her attention being given to Mrs. Stringham, with whom she came through and who was now, none too soon, taking leave of her. They were followed by Lord 70