"'Of Heaven, madam, and at birth. I mean fair women."'

"Such as- "

"'Such as you, madam.'"

The way she said 'Hush!' at that was a flash of genius. It was
indescribably eloquent. She forbade and invited in the same
breath. It was wonderful, and it made me Buckingham. And
Buckingham it brought to her feet. Little wonder. It would have
brought a cardinal. In the passionate rhetoric of my lines I
wooed her, sitting there on the tree trunk, her head thrown back,
eyes closed, lips parted, and always the faint smile that sends a
man mad. I never had to tell her to rise. To the line she
swayed towards me. To the line she slipped into my arms. She
even raised her lips to mine at the last. Then, as I stooped for
the kiss, she placed her two small hands firmly on my face and
pushed me away.

"Very nice, indeed," she said. "You know your lines well, and
you know how to speak them. Hare, I think you're going to be
rather good."

I wiped the perspiration off my forehead.

"You made me good, then. I shall never give such a show again."

"Of course you will."

"Never! Never, Alice! But you- you're wonderful. Good Heavens,