His heart was beating fast now, and a delicious predatory thrill was shivering through his nerves. Christie made not the least attempt to extricate herself from his caresses. She permitted him to bend her slim body this way and that way in his wanton excitement. But when he kissed her, she bent her neck so far round that it was her cheek and not her lips he kissed; and soon after that she slipped away from him and sank down exhausted in her former seat.

The look she gave him now, as they stared at each other, confused and out of breath, was completely inscrutable to him.

“You’re not annoyed with me, Christie?” he panted.

There was a flicker of anger in her eyes at this.

“Of course not,” she answered. “What do you take me for? I’m not as mean as that. I’m not a puritanical fool.”

“Well, then⁠ ⁠… well, then?” he muttered, approaching her chair and standing over her.