It was the family rendezvous, where we usually found the ladies at the luncheon hour.
Lucille went in there, leaving the door open behind her.

I have always rushed at my fences, and have had the falls I merited.

I followed Lucille into the sunlit room.

She must have heard my footsteps, but took no notice--walking to the window, and standing there, rested her two hands on the sill while she looked down into the garden.
"Mademoiselle!" She half turned her head with a little haughty toss of it, looking not at me, but at the ground beneath my feet.
"Well, Monsieur ?" "In what have I offended you ?" She shrugged her shoulders, and I, looking at her as she stood with her back to me, knew again and always that the world contained but this one woman for me.
"Since I told you of my feeling towards yourself," I went on, "and was laughed at for my pains, I have been careful not to take advantage of my position in the house.

I have not been so indiscreet again." She was playing with the blind-cord in an attitude and humour so youthful that I had a sort of tugging at the heart.
"Perhaps, though," I continued, "I have offended in my very discretion.