THE WINGS OF THE DOVE
but that was a reason the more. "Has she got it into her head that you dislike me?"
To this, of a sudden, Kate's answer was strong. "You could yourself easily put it there!"
He wondered. "By telling her so?"
"No," said Kate as with amusement at his simplicity; "I don't ask that of you."
"Oh, my dear," Densher laughed, "when you ask, you know, so little———!"
There was a full irony in this, on his own part, that he saw her resist the impulse to take up. "I'm perfectly justified in what I've asked," she quietly returned. "It's doing beautifully for you." Their eyes again intimately met, and the effect was to make her proceed. "You're not a bit unhappy."
"Oh, ain't I?" he brought out very roundly.
"It doesn't practically show—which is enough for Aunt Maud. You're wonderful, you're beautiful," Kate said; "and if you really want to know whether I believe you're doing it, you may take from me, perfectly, that I see it coming." With which, by a quick transition, as if she had settled the case, she asked him the hour.
"Oh, only twelve-ten"—he had looked at his watch. "We've taken but thirteen minutes; we've time yet."
"Then we must walk. We must go toward them."
Densher, from where they had been standing,
207
