"Oh, nonsense; when I am your husband you will be just as infatuated about me as she is."
"Do you know, Philip, you are as vain as a girl."
"Well, yes; I suppose I am vain; but so would any man be who was as successful with the fair s.e.x as I am," he said, drawing himself up to his full height of five feet nine, a look of pleasure in his large bright eyes.
"I can a.s.sure you, Philip, I felt anything but vain at the Pavilion, or coming out of church, with the spiteful eyes of that tall, common-looking, over-dressed Mrs. Sn.o.b full upon me, as social astronomer; she took in the situation at once."
"A fig for what such like see or think; I thought you were above valuing the opinion of our wealthy plebeians."
"But we were so conspicuously placed; I shrink from giving such women food for gossip."
"Hang them all; our east-ender, Mrs. Sn.o.b, Ragsel, and the whole tribe, or anyone that bothers you, Elaine."
"But, Philip, do be rational; release me from my oath; give me my freedom; we will never be happy married, or with our engagement still on; for she will grow bolder, and more persistent with each advance; do, for pity"s sake, free me."
"No, no; you ask too much," he said, angrily, thinking of these comfortable quarters of which he should be master, and of the woman beside him also.
"But see how you left me for her last night; you _must_ be fond of her."
"I am _not_, so help me G.o.d; but I could not shake her off without making a scene."
"But just fancy, Philip; if we were married she would prowl about the place even more than she does at present."
"It is all your own fault, Elaine, that she gives you those scares in the evening; for she only comes when she knows I am about; if you lived more to yourself, and did not have all these women about you, I would come in the afternoon, like to-day; and she would be none the wiser, for she is at work in the day and can"t come."
"It is a fearful life for me."
"Be reasonable, Elaine: any man as fascinating to your s.e.x as I am must, of necessity, have women breaking their necks for them."
"How you amuse me," she said, smiling ironically, comparing him with someone else.
"I don"t see why; you know I speak truth," he said, innocently; "let me come in the afternoon; don"t have any one else; then, pet, she will not see me watching to see you when your guests are gone at night; and so you will not be troubled with her."
"But just think what a proposition you are making; she is to control our actions."
"Yes; but only for a time, pet; she will, perhaps, tire of pursuing me; if she had me, and you were out in the cold, I feel sure she would agree to my proposition."
"You certainly have a most amusing way of putting things."
"I know I have; it"s my large, kind heart and wish to please; and when we are married I will both charm and amuse you."
"No, no; it will not be safe for me to marry you; for how about this other woman; would you charm and amuse her also?"
"Just as I was in the humor; if she angered me, I would not think twice of setting Tyr on her."
"Dinner is served, ma"am."
On repairing to the dining-room; and having done ample justice to a substantial dinner, prepared with a view to the possible advent of the Dales; and when the oyster soup, roast beef, with delicious vegetables, had been removed, dessert on, and Thomas dismissed, Mr. Cobbe said, in pleased tones:
"I must congratulate you on your cook, Elaine."
"Then you congratulate myself, Philip; for my seraph of the frying-pan knows next to nothing of the art; I devote two hours of each day to my culinary department."
"For which you have the thanks of your guests, and for which Bridget will make you pay."
"Yes; I know; but they all do it; when they feel their wings, they demand higher wages, or fly.
"When will you marry me, Elaine?" he said, lightly, as they entered the drawing-room.
"_After all I have said, you still ask this_," she said, freeing herself, and at her wits" end to know what to do with him, remembering her oath; but this woman, and what revenge she may take, terrifies her.
Mr. Cobbe lights the gas; but the inside shutters must be shut; and as she closes them, he a.s.sists her, standing so near that his cheek touches hers.
"Don"t speak to me like that, Elaine; we love each other; and hang her for coming between us; come here, pet, and sit beside me; it is a treat to have you all to myself."
"No; I am in no humor for a _tete-a-tete_; and the Dales may arrive at any moment."
"Hang them; can"t they go to a hotel; I dislike them; and surely you had enough of them, and that doleful Miss Crew, while Dale went north."
"Tastes differ, Philip; I have a sincere friendship for them; as to their coming now, most of my little friends" wardrobe is----"
Here a sharp ring at the hall door startled them.
"What! a ring; that woman will be the death of me; I tremble now, once evening comes, at every peal of that bell."
"Beg pardon, sir; a person--a--a lady, says she is waiting to speak to you, sir."
"Go, Philip, quick, for heaven"s sake; this is dreadful," she said, in a gasp, holding her hand to her side.
"Mr. Blair," said Thomas; and the old gold _portiere_ hangings are again closed, and they are alone.
"Forget I am with you; don"t try to speak yet," he said, kindly leading her to a seat; "you will breathe naturally in a few minutes, you have been startled; but it is all quiet now; your servant carefully fastened the door; lean your head back to this cushion; there is something, after all, in material comforts. Ah, now your color comes, and your eyes--well," he said, smiling, yet with a grave tenderness, "your eyes have lost their startled look, and may again weave their spells." For she had now opened her eyes, keeping them closed so she could better listen to his voice as he talked on, giving her time to recover that self which in alarm had fled.
But with her nerves more quiet comes a thought which she must set at rest. So intent on her question is she, that self-consciousness is altogether absent, as, looking into his face, she says,
"You must be a married man; you are so good a nurse, knowing exactly what is best for one; are you?"
"No; I was," he said, indicating, by a gesture, a mourning ring on the third finger of his left hand.
"Forgive me; I should not have asked you so abruptly."
"I don"t mind you, you don"t seem a stranger; and my poor wife was an invalid, so that her death, thirteen months ago, was not unexpected."
"No; under those circ.u.mstances, you would be more or less prepared."
"Tell me, did you deem me impertinent to turn my eyes to your face when we have so frequently met, before our introduction?"
"No; else I should have to share in your blame; for I should not have seen you had I not been guilty of like fault," she said, drooping her eyes.