It would be dreadfully dreary to separate our parties
after we'd traveled so long together."
"Maybe I will. I haven't thought about it."
"But you _must_ think about it. There's no knowing now when we may
come upon them--almost any day. You don't want to go on and leave us
behind, do you?"
He again made no answer and she stole another quick look at him. This
mastery of a fellow creature was by far the most engrossing pastime
life had offered her. There was something about him, a suggestion of
depths hidden and shut away from her that filled her with the
venturesome curiosity of Fatima opening the cupboards in Bluebeard's
castle.
"We'd feel so lonely if you went on and left us behind with a lot of
strange people," she said, with increasing softness. "We'd miss you
so."
The young man turned quickly on her, leaned nearer, and said huskily:
"Would you?"
The movement brought his face close to hers, and she shrank back
sharply, her hand ready to hold him at a distance. Her laughing
expression changed into one of offended dignity, almost aversion. At
the same time his agitation, which had paled his cheeks and burst
through his shy reserve, filled her with repulsion.
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