With them, all the same, through the square opening beside her, through the grey panorama of the London night, she achieved the feat of not losing sight of what she wanted; and her lips helped and protected her by being able to be gay.

"It's not to leave YOU, my dear--for that he'll give up anything; just as he would go off anywhere, I think, you know, if you would go with him.

I mean you and he alone," Maggie pursued with her gaze out of her window.
For which Amerigo's answer again took him a moment.

"Ah, the dear old boy! You would like me to propose him something-- ?" "Well, if you think you could bear it." "And leave," the Prince asked, "you and Charlotte alone ?" "Why not ?" Maggie had also to wait a minute, but when she spoke it came clear.

"Why shouldn't Charlotte be just one of MY reasons--my not liking to leave her?
She has always been so good, so perfect, to me--but never so wonderfully as just now.