It is--it may be a phase; and yet I know that if it is anything at all it is not a passing phase.

She is different from the majority, you see--very intelligent, very direct.

She never forgets--for example.

Her loyalty is quite remarkable, Phil.

She is very intense in her--her beliefs--the more so because she is unusually free from impulse--even quite ignorant of the deeper emotions; or so I believed until--until--" "Is she in _love_ ?" he asked.
"A little, Phil." "Does she admit it ?" he demanded, unpleasantly astonished.
"She admits it in a dozen innocent ways to me who can understand her; but to herself she has not admitted it, I think--could not admit it yet; because--because--" "Who is it ?" asked Selwyn; and there was in his voice the slightest undertone of a growl.
"Dear, shall I tell you ?" "Why not ?" "Because--because--Phil, I think that our pretty Eileen is a little in love with--you." He straightened out to his full height, scarlet to the temples; she dropped her linked fingers in her lap, gazing at him almost sadly.
"Dear, all the things you are preparing to shout at me are quite useless; I _know_; I don't imagine, I don't forestall, I don't predict.
I am not discounting any hopes of mine, because, Phil, I had not thought--had not planned such a thing--between you and Eileen--I don't know why.