His talents, his rapid
changes of mood, as sense or conscience got the upper hand, and his
versatility charmed her imagination and excited her interest; and he
had, besides, that magnetic power over her by which it is given to some
men to compel people of certain temperaments to their will. While she
was with him he could have made her believe that black was white, and
not only believe it, but be glad to think that it was so; and he always
compelled her to say exactly what she had in her mind at the moment,
even when it was something that she would very much rather not have
said.
"But I am forgetting my other object in coming," Ideala broke off at
last. "May I look at the books?"
Lorrimer took out his watch. "You ought to have some lunch first," he
said. "If you will come now and have some, we can return and look at
the books afterwards."
Ideala acquiesced, fearing it was his own lunch time, and knowing it
would detain him if she did not accompany him.
Ladies not being allowed to lunch at the Great Hospital, they went, as
before, to the station close by, and sat down side by side, perfectly
happy together, chatting, laughing, talking about their childhood, and
making those trifling confidences which go so far to promote intimacy,
and are often the first evidence of affection.
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