Love is more like a vine. It takes a
long while to ripen and come to perfection, and it has a lot to go
through first."
Again a sense of strangeness came to Bunny. Surely this was a grown woman
speaking! This was not the wild little creature he knew. But--perhaps it
was from perversity--her warning only served to strengthen his
determination.
"You can go on arguing till midnight," he said, "you won't convince me.
But look here, if you don't want anyone to know, we'll keep it to
ourselves for a little while. Will that satisfy you? We'll meet and have
some jolly times together in private. Will that make you any happier?"
"We shan't be engaged?" questioned Toby.
"Not if you'll kiss me without," said Bunny generously.
"Oh, I don't mind kissing you--" she lifted her lips at once, "if it
doesn't mean anything."
He stooped swiftly and met them with his own. His kiss was close and
lingering, it held tenderness; and in a moment her arms crept round his
neck and she clung to him as she returned it. He felt a sob run through
her slight frame as he held her though she shed no tears and made no
sound, and he was stirred to a deeper chivalry than he had ever known
before.
"It does mean one thing, darling," he said softly.
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