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golden dome； seen through the veil； was tinged with blue。 Boston！ Why
not Russia？ Janet was speechless for sheer lack of words to describe
what she felt。。。。
At length he brought the car to a halt opposite an imposing doorway in
front of which a glass roof extended over the pavement； and Janet
demanded where they were。
〃Well； we've got to eat； haven't we？〃 Ditmar replied。 She noticed that
he was shivering。
〃Are you cold？〃 she inquired with concern。
〃I guess I am； a little；〃 he replied。 〃I don't know why I should be； in
a fur coat。 But I'll be warm soon enough； now。〃
A man in blue livery hurried toward them across the sidewalk； helping
them to alight。 And Ditmar； after driving the car a few paces beyond the
entrance； led her through the revolving doors into a long corridor； paved
with marble and lighted by bulbs glowing from the ceiling； where benches
were set against the wall； overspread by the leaves of potted plants set
in the intervals between them。
〃Sit down a moment；〃 he said to her。 〃I must telephone to have somebody
take that car； or it'll stay there the rest of the winter。〃
She sat down on one of the benches。 The soft light； the warmth； the
exotic odour of the plants； the well…dressed people who trod softly the
strip of carpet set on the marble with the air of being at homeall
contributed to an excitement； intense yet benumbing。 She could not
think。 She didn't want to thinkonly to feel； to enjoy； to wring the
utmost flavour of enchantment from these new surroundings； and her face
wore the expression of one in a dream。 Presently she saw Ditmar
returning followed by a boy in a blue uniform。
〃All right；〃 he said。 At the end of the corridor was an elevator in
which they were shot to one of the upper floors； and the boy； inserting a
key in a heavy mahogany door； revealed a sitting…room。 Between its
windows was a table covered with a long； white cloth reaching to the
floor； on which； amidst the silverware and glass； was set a tall vase
filled with dusky roses。 Janet； drawing in a deep breath of their
fragrance； glanced around the room。 The hangings； the wall…paper； the
carpet； the velvet upholstery of the mahogany chairs； of the wide lounge
in the corner were of a deep and restful green； the marble mantelpiece；
with its English coal grate； was copiedhad she known itfrom a mansion
of the Georgian period。 The hands of a delicate Georgian clock pointed
to one。 And in the large mirror behind the clock she beheld an image she
supposed； dreamily； to be herself。 The bell boy was taking off her coat；
which he hung； with Ditmar's； on a rack in a corner。
〃Shall I light the fire； sir？〃 he asked。
〃Sure；〃 said Ditmar。 〃And tell them to hurry up with lunch。〃
The boy withdrew； closing the door silently behind him。
〃We're going to have lunch here！〃 Janet exclaimed。
〃Why not？ I thought it would be nicer than a public dining…room； and
when I got up this morning and saw what the weather was I telephoned。〃
He placed two chairs before the fire； which had begun to blaze。 〃Isn't
it cosy？〃 he said； taking her hands and pulling her toward him。 His own
hands trembled； the tips of his fingers were cold。
〃You are cold！〃 she said。
〃Not nownot now；〃 he replied。 The queer vibrations were in his voice
that she had heard before。 〃Sweetheart！ This is the best yet； isn't it？
And after that trip in the storm！〃
〃It's beautiful！〃 she murmured； gently drawing away from him and looking
around her once more。 〃I never was in a room like this。〃
〃Well； you'll be in plenty more of them；〃 he exulted。 〃Sit down beside
the fire； and get warm yourself。〃
She obeyed； and he took the chair at her side； his eyes on her face。 As
usual； she was beyond him； and despite her exclamations of surprise； of
appreciation and pleasure she maintained the outward poise； the
inscrutability that summed up for him her uniqueness in the world of
woman。 She sat as easily upright in the delicate Chippendale chair as
though she had been born to it。 He made wild surmises as to what she
might be thinking。 Was she； as she seemed； taking all this as a matter
of course？ She imposed on him an impelling necessity to speak； to say
anythingit did not matter whatand he began to dwell on the
excellences of the hotel。 She did not appear to hear him； her eyes
lingering on the room； until presently she asked：
〃What's the name of this hotel？〃
He told her。
〃I thought they only allowed married people to come； like this； in a
private room。〃
〃Oh！〃 he beganand the sudden perception that she had made this
statement impartially added to his perplexity。 〃Well；〃 he was able to
answer； 〃we're as good as married； aren't we； Janet？〃 He leaned toward
her； he put his hand on hers。 〃The manager here is an old friend of
mine。 He knows we're as good as married。〃
〃Another old friend！〃 she queried。 And the touch of humour； in spite of
his taut nerves； delighted him。
〃Yes； yes；〃 he laughed； rather uproariously。 〃I've got 'em everywhere；
as thick as landmarks。〃
〃You seem to；〃 she said。
〃I hope you're hungry；〃 he said。
〃Not very；〃 she replied。 〃It's all so strangethis day； Claude。 It's
like a fairy story； coming here to Boston in the snow； and this place；
andand being with you。〃
〃You still love me？〃 he cried； getting up。
〃You must know that I do；〃 she answered simply； raising her face to his。
And he stood gazing down into it； with an odd expression she had never
seen before。。。。〃What's the matter？〃 she asked。
〃Nothingnothing；〃 he assured her； but continued to look at her。
〃You're soso wonderful；〃 he whispered； 〃I just can't believe it。〃
〃And if it's hard for you；〃 she answered； 〃think what it must be for me！〃
And she smiled up at him。
Ditmar had known a moment of awe。。。。 Suddenly he took her face between
his hands and pressed his rough cheek against it； blindly。 His hands
trembled； his body was shaken； as by a spasm。
〃Why； you're still cold； Claude！〃 she cried anxiously。
And he stammered out： 〃I'm notit's youit's having you！〃
Before she could reply to this strange exclamation； to which；
nevertheless； some fire in her leaped in response； there came a knock at
the door； and he drew away from her as he answered it。 Two waiters
entered obsequiously； one bearing a serving table； the other holding
above his head a large tray containing covered dishes and glasses。
〃I could do with a cocktail！〃 Ditmar exclaimed； and the waiter smiled as
he served them。 〃Here's how！〃 he said； giving her a glass containing a
yellow liquid。
She tasted it； made a grimace； and set it down hastily。
〃What's the trouble？〃 he asked； laughing； as she hurried to the table and
took a drink of water。
〃It's horrid！〃 she cried。
〃Oh； you'll get over that idea；〃 he told her。 〃You'll be crazy about
'em。〃
〃I never want to taste another；〃 she declared。
He laughed again。 He had taken his at a swallow； but almost nullifying
its effect was this confirmationif indeed he had needed itof the
extent of her inexperience。 She was； in truth； untouched by the world
the world in which he had lived。 He pulled out her chair for her and she
sat down