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llthem,—theirmothers,orotherusefulpersonsofthatsort.ShevaguelydecidedthatthenexttimeshemetRobinandwasstrengthenedproperlybyfoodshewouldsayafewthingstohimfromwhichrecoverywouldtakealongwhile. "Areyou—notwell?"Robinasked,afterasilenceduringwhichhiseyesneverleftherandherswereshutandeventohimselfhisvoicesoundeddeeper,moreintensethanusual. "Ohyes,"murmuredPriscillawithalittlesigh. "Areyou—happy?" Happy?Cananybodywhoissupperless,dinnerless,breakfastless,behappy,Priscillawondered?Butthequestionstruckherasfunny,andthevibratingtonesinwhichitwasaskedstruckherasratherfunnytoo,andsheopenedhereyesforamomenttolookupatRobinwithasmileofamusement—asmilethatshecouldnotguesswasturnedbythehungerwithinherintosomethingwistfulandtremulous."Yes,"saidPriscillainthatstrangepatheticvoice,"I—thinkso."Andafterabriefglanceathimdownwentherwearyeyelidsagain. ThenextthingthathappenedwasthatRobin,whowastrembling,kissedherhand.Thisshelethimdowithperfectplacidity.EveryGermanwomanisusedtohavingherhandkissed.Itiskissedonmeeting,itiskissedonparting,itiskissedatagreatmanyoddtimesinbetweensheholdsitupmechanicallywhenshecomesacrossamaleacquaintancesheisneversurprisedattheceremonytheonlythingthatsurprisesherisifitisleftout.PriscillathensimplythoughtRobinwasgoing."Whatamercy,"shesaidtoherself,glancingathimamomentthroughhereyelashes.ButRobinwasnotusedtohand-kissingandsawthingsinaverydifferentlight.Hefeltshemadenoattempttodrawherhandaway,heheardhermurmuringsomethinginarticulate—itwasmerelyGood-bye—hewashurledalongtohisdoomandstoopingoverhertheunfortunateyoungmankissedherhair. Priscillaopenedhereyessuddenlyandverywide.Idon'tknowwhatfollyhewouldhaveperpetratednext,orwhatsillinesseswereonthetipofhistongue,orwhatmeaninghestillchosetoreadinherlook,butaninstantafterwardshewasbroughtdownforeverfromthegiddyheightsofhisillusions:Priscillaboxedhisears. Iamsorrytohavetorecordit.Itisalwayssweeterifawomandoesnotboxears.Theactionisshrewish,benighted,medi?val,nay,barbarousandthisboxwasaveryhardoneindeed,extraordinarilyhardforsolittleahandandsofastingagirl.Butweknowshehadtwicealreadybeenonthevergeofdoingitandthepent-upvigourofwhatthepolicemanhadnotgotandwhatthemotherinthetrainhadnotgotwasaddedIimaginetowhatRobingot.Anyhowitwasefficacious.Therewasanexclamation—Ithinkofsurprise,forsurelyayoungmanwouldnotha