.Wallacequiteclosetohim,wearingthethingsthathehadseenherwear,andwithhermovementshenoticedtheexcessivescentsheused.Hewonderedwhethershehadovercomethatfailing,whethershestillaffectedtheartificialitywhichwassoadorablearelieffromtheprimnessofmannerwhichhehadthoughtthenaturalwayofwomen.
Ifhercheekswerenotaltogetherinnocentofrougeorhereyebrowsofpencil,whatdidhecarehedelightedinherveryfaultshewouldnothaveherdifferentintheveryslightestdetaileverythingwaspartofthatcomplex,elusivefascination.AndJamesthoughtoftheskinwhichhadtheevensoftnessoffinevelvet,andthelittlehands.Hecalledhimselfafoolforhisshyness.Whatcouldhavebeentheharmifhehadtakenthosehandsandkissedthem?Now,inimagination,hepressedhislipspassionatelyonthewarmpalms.Helikedthebarbarictouchinthemanyringswhichbedeckedherfingers.
"Whydoyouwearsomanyrings?"heasked."Yourhandsaretoofine."
Hewouldneverhaveventuredthequestion,butnowtherewasnodanger.Heranswercamewithalittle,good-humouredlaughshestretchedoutherfingers,lookingcomplacentlyatthebrilliantgems.
"Iliketobegaudy.Ishouldliketobeencrustedwithjewels.Iwanttowearbraceletstomyelbowanddiamondspanglesonmyarmsandjewelledbelts,andjewelsinmyhair,andonmyneck.Ishouldliketoflashfromheadtofootwithexoticstones."
Thenshelookedathimwithamusement.
"Ofcourse,youthinkit'svulgar.WhatdoIcare?Youallofyouthinkit'svulgartobedifferentfromotherpeople.Iwanttobeunique."
"Youwanteverybodytolookatyou?"
"OfcourseIdo!Isitsinful?Oh,Igetsoimpatientwithallofyou,withyourgoodtasteandyourdelicacy,andyourinsupportabledulness.Whenyouadmireawoman,youthinkitimpertinenttotellhershe'sbeautifulwhenyouhavegoodlooks,youcarryyourselvesasthoughyouwereashamed."
Andinaboldmomenthereplied:
"Yetyouwouldgiveyoursoultohavenodropofforeignbloodinyourveins!"
"I?"shecried,hereyesflashingwithscorn."I'mproudofmyEasternblood.It'snotbloodIhaveinmyveins,it'sfire—afireofgold.It'sbe