"Oh, no," she said with perfect assurance. "I tell you she daren't open
her mouth to him. And she isn't as silly as she looks. She wouldn't give
us away. She knows a trick worth two of that. She'll help--that's what
she'll do, if she dares do anything at all."
"You seem to have a very clear view of the situation," said Heyst, and
received a warm, lingering kiss for this commendation.
He discovered that to-part from her was not such an easy matter as he
had supposed it would be.
"Upon my word," he said before they separated, "I don't even know your
name."
"Don't you? They call me Alma. I don't know why. Silly name! Magdalen
too. It doesn't matter; you can call me by whatever name you choose.
Yes, you give me a name. Think of one you would like the sound
of--something quite new. How I should like to forget everything that has
gone before, as one forgets a dream that's done with, fright and all! I
would try."
"Would you really?" he asked in a murmur. "But that's not forbidden. I
understand that women easily forget whatever in their past diminishes
them in their eyes."
"It's your eyes that I was thinking of, for I'm sure I've never wished
to forget anything till you came up to me that night and looked me
through and through. I know I'm not much account; but I know how to
stand by a man. I stood by father ever since I could understand.
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