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!'
IV
Fortune 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.
