The insolent, dreaming smile just parted them. Then he
thought he was lost. But she stirred--he feared she would awaken.
He had stepped back erect when she opened her eyes. They were
sleepy, yet surprised until she saw him. Then she was wide awake
in a second, bewildered, uncertain.
"Why--you here?" she asked, slowly.
"Large as life!" replied Dick, with unusual gayety.
"How long have you been here?"
"Just got here this fraction of a second," he replied,
lying shamelessly.
It was evident that she did not know whether or not to believe
him, and as she studied him a slow blush dyed her cheek.
"You are absolutely truthful when you say you just stepped there?"
"Why, of course," answered Dick, right glad he did not have to lie
about that.
"I thought--I was--dreaming," she said, and evidently the sound
of her voice reassured her.
"Yes, you looked as if you were having pleasant dreams," replied
Dick. "So sorry to wake you. I can't see how I came to do it, I
was so quiet. Mercedes didn't wake. Well, I'll go and let you
have your siesta and dreams."
But he did not move to go. Nell regarded him with curious,
speculative eyes.
"Isn't it a lovely day?" queried Dick.
"I think it's hot."
"Only ninety in the shade. And you've told me the mercury goes
to one hundred and thirty in midsummer. This is just a glorious
golden day."
"Yesterday was finer, but you didn't notice it."
"Oh, yesterday was somewhere back in the past--the inconsequential
past.
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