"What the dickens is all this?" I demanded. "Have those tourists the
impudence to come here and ask for accommodations in my house?"
She seemed surprised and also I thought a trifle excited.
"But, Monsieur, was it not understood?"
"Oh, yes, of course it was understood because the idiotic Swiss law must
be obeyed," said I, gnawing my lip in vexation. "What do they
want--these tourists? Tea?"
"I think," said Thusis, "they intend to stay."
"Over-night?"
"Longer, Monsieur."
"Hang it all!" I blurted out. "That spoils our perfectly delightful
privacy."
Thusis observed me sideways. She wore the fine chemisette of some sheer
stuff and the velvet bodice of the peasantry, both coquettish and cut
low. Her straight short wool skirt and buckled slippers set off the
fascinating costume of the Canton; but no peasant ever possessed such
slender and thoroughbred loveliness.
I glanced down at her slim feet, at her hands so smooth and so prettily
fashioned; I looked up into her gray eyes uneasily. And I thought to
myself that I'd show the door to any guest who tried any nonsense with
Thusis.
"Where are these tourists?" I asked sulkily.
"In the big lounging room."
As I started to descend the stairs Thusis touched me on the arm. A tiny
and complex shock went quite through me at the contact.
"Don Michael?"
"Yes."
"Are you still vexed at me?"
"No."
"Because--I _was_ rude to you. I did provoke you. I did lay myself open
to light treatment from you. But--I do respect you, Don Michael."
"You are always laughing at me."
"I know. It's my way--if I like a person.... I plague them a little....
_If_ I like them."
"But you not only plague me, you ridicule me!"
"You don't understand. You couldn't understand. I myself don't
understand why I laugh at you and torment you.... Because I never
before did that to a man.... To my sister--to my girl friends, yes.
But never before to any man."
She stood near me, smiling, watching my expression.
"I like you, Don Michael," she said.
"And I you, Thusis."
"I know it. It won't do, either. I mean that we may laugh a little
together, now and then. But it is safer not to think of each other
as--as socially--equal."
I said magnanimously: "I am beginning to think of you in that way
already."
"Are you really?" Her smile flashed out, mischievous, almost mocking.
"A servant?" she added. "Possibly even an adventuress? An agent,
anyway, in the service of some government not yours? You consider
admitting such a woman on terms of social equality? Oh, Don Michael!
If you like me as much as that you must care a little more for me than
mere liking."
"I do."
She began to laugh--a hushed, delicious sort of laughter, checked
suddenly by my quick flush.
"If I take the trouble to be serious with you," said I, "as much is due
me from you, I think."
It was, for me, utterly impossible to define the series of complex
expressions which succeeded one another in her face.
She seemed inclined to laugh again but bit her lip and looked at me out
of brilliant eyes. Mirth, surprise, gay disdain, a fleeting
uncertainty, a slight blush,--then the familiar sweet mockery once
more--these I read and followed as I watched her.
"Such a strange young man," I heard her murmur to herself.
"And such a strange girl, Thusis."
"I know. And you and I have no business to play together. And we can't
unless we're very, very careful. We ought not to. You think so from
your standpoint, and I know it from mine. And yet--if you will be very,
very careful--I'll risk it--a little while longer.... Because I--I
don't know why--I like to laugh at you, Don Michael.... And I laugh at
those only whom I like."
"I think," said I, "that I'm rather near to falling in love with you,
Thusis."
"Oh!" she cried with her breathless, bewildering smile, "I couldn't
permit you to do that!"
"Permit me?"
"No. You mustn't. That would never do! No--no indeed! Never! Just
find me gay and frivolous and rather pretty in my way--just attractive
enough to remain good humored when I plague you."
"If I should fall in love with you I couldn't help it."
"But it would be such a mistake. You mustn't do it. I don't wish to
think about such things. It wouldn't do for me. Or for you. I mean as
far as I am concerned."
"You mean you could not respond, Thusis?"
"Oh, no, I couldn't." In her hurried voice there was a faint hint of
alarm, I thought.