"
She was thoughtful for a few moments, and her eyes lit up with reminiscent
humor.
"Dear me!" she murmured. "If only they knew! They hadn't any suspicions, I
suppose, about those--those little trifles?"
"None," I replied. "I put it all on to a waiter."
"How clever of you! You really do seem to be a most capable person--and so
masterful! I begin to fear that some day you'll have your own way."
Her eyes laughed at me. There was something softly provocative in them--a
new and kinder light. I bent over her and kissed her. She sat quite still.
"Mr. Walmsley!"
"It's usual among engaged couples," I pleaded.
"Is it!" she remarked coldly. "Doesn't the man, as a rule, wait to be
quite sure he is engaged?"
"Not in this country," I declared: "I have heard that Americans are rather
shy about that sort of thing. Englishmen----"
"Oh, bother Englishmen!" she exclaimed, stamping her foot. "I don't
believe a word I've ever heard about them. I suppose now I shall have to
marry you!"
"I don't see any way out of it," I agreed readily.
She held up her finger. The door was quietly opened. Mr. Parker entered.
He was followed by the most utterly objectionable and repulsive-looking
person I have ever set eyes on in my life--a young man, thin, and of less
than medium height, flashily dressed in cheap clothes, with patent boots
and brilliant necktie.
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