It began--I don't know--waiting for you--wondering if you could be ill--all alone.

Then that ass, Sam Ogilvy--oh, it's just oversmoking I guess, or--I don't know what." She sat regarding him, head tipped unconsciously on one side in an attitude suggesting a mind concocting malice.
"Louis ?" "What ?" "You're very attractive when you're god-like--" "You little wretch!" "But--you're positively dangerous when you're human." "Valerie! I'll--" "The great god Kelly, or the fascinating, fearsome, erring Louis! Which is it to be?
I've an idea that the time is come to decide!" [Illustration: "'I _will_ call you a god if I like!'"] Fairly radiating a charming aura of malice she sat back, nursing one knee, distractingly pretty and defiant, saying: "I _will_ call you a god if I like!" "I'll tell you what, Valerie," he said, half in earnest; "I've played grandmother to you long enough, by Heck!" "Oh, Kelly, be lofty and Olympian! Be a god and shame the rest of us!" "I'll shamefully resemble one of 'em in another moment if you continue tormenting me!" "Which one, great one ?" "Jupiter, little lady.

He was the boss philanderer you know." "What is a philanderer, my Olympian friend ?" "Oh, one of those Olympian divinities who always began the day by kissing the girls all around." "Before breakfast ?" "Certainly." "It's--after breakfast, Kelly." "Luncheon and dinner still impend." "Besides--I'm not a bit lonely to-day....

I'm afraid I wouldn't let you, Kel--I mean Louis." "Why didn't you say 'Kelly' ?" "Kelly is too god-like to kiss." "Oh! So _that's_ the difference! Kelly isn't human; Louis is." "Kelly, to me," she admitted, "is practically kissless....

I haven't thought about Louis in that regard." "Consider the matter thoroughly." "Do you wish me to ?" She bent her head, smiling.