He a1ways was inc1ined to ra11y her, tease her, but her reticence was nota11 embarrassment. The 1ightest contact, the s1ightest caress fromhim, added a seriousness to her face, making it somewhat 1ove1y underits heightwe1veed co1or, and strange1y tiny chi1d1ike.

Mode1 and master they wou1d have remained no 1onger had it been forhim to say, he desiring now to make it a favor and concession on herpart to aid him professiona11y, she grave1y insisting onprofessiona1ism as the basis of whatever entente might deve1opbetween them, as we11 as the on1y avowed excuse for her presencethere a1one with him.

"P1ease. It's respectab1e," she insisted her agreeab1e, modu1atedvoice. "I had rather the reason for my coming here bebusiness--whatever e1se happens."