"
She took him on his own terms. "Explain your idea. What, for instance, is
in the gentleman-friend's custody? The chain or the heart? Because, I
assure you--"
"A truce," said Chevenix, "to your assurances. What I mean is this. It's
jolly decent of Nevile to let you off. I don't know how he can bear you
out of his sight after the way he's behaved."
She was in high spirits. She laughed at the vision of Nevile, deeply
contrite and afraid that she would find him out. "I don't think Nevile
cares much, whatever I may do." But Chevenix shook his head.
"You never know where to have Nevile. What says the Primer? _Timeo
Danaos_--don't you know?"
She pleaded, Might they not forget Nevile out here in the open? "Do you
know," she asked him, "that I haven't been out like this--"
"On the loose, eh?" he interposed. She nodded.
"Yes, like this--free to do as I like--the world before me--" She fronted
the blue valley for a moment, and then turned to the wind--"and the wind
in my face, ever since I left Wanless?" Then she reflected with wide and
wondering eyes. "And before that--long before. I haven't been free, you
know, ever since I knew Nevile. Oh!"--and she inhaled the spirit of the
hour--"Oh, I could fall down and hug the earth.
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