VII
BASIL himself saved the situation. That night they were going out to dinner, and in the carriage on the way he explicitly denied what he had said, pronounced it only a mood, and assured Teresa that he wanted her to be perfectly free, and not to give up the least of her amusements because of an unreasonable feeling on his part. He admitted emotionally that it was unreasonable, and stated his entire trust in her so convincingly that Teresa's spirits rose with a leap.
"That's all right, then—now we're ourselves again!" she said gaily. "I didn't quite recognise you in the rôle of Bluebeard! You give me carte blanche, and I promise I shan't want to look into the forbidden cupboard!"
"No, don't promise anything—except that you'll always like me better than anyone else."
"I needn't promise that—I can't help it. Life is so amusing with you, Basil! I feel so gay and young to-night—all the worries seem little things. The baby was so dear to-day—he's the most intelligent little thing, and so strong and alive! I'm going to model a little profile of him. Yes, he really has got a profile. And to think I
199
