"How awfully curious--if it be true!" She had been looking away to the sweet English distance, but at this she made a movement.

"Oh Mr.Van, I'm 'true'!" As Mr.Van himself couldn't have expressed at any subsequent time to any interested friend the particular effect upon him of the tone of these words his chronicler takes advantage of the fact not to pretend to a greater intelligence--to limit himself on the contrary to the simple statement that they produced in Mr.Van's cheek a flush just discernible.

"Fear of what ?" "I don't know.

Fear is fear." "Yes, yes--I see." He took out another cigarette and occupied a moment in lighting it.

"Well, kindness is kindness too--that's all one can say." He had smoked again a while before she turned to him.