She grew very red, and after a pause she said—
“I see you are in no humour to render me a service.”
“I am always ready to serve a lady who exercises the privileges of her sex. Why did you not send for me, if you wished to ask me anything?”
“Ah!” she exclaimed, in an injured tone, “my want of etiquette causes your ill-humour. I have come into your room. Well, pass it over—you know I am so little of ‘a lady.’”
“That’s only too true, Major.”
“Major!” she repeated angrily, opening her large eyes in astonishment. “I thought you disliked my nickname.”
“Not since I have seen the soldier in action. But I should like to know to which class of majors you belong, tambour-major or sergeant-major? For I believe the command of a regiment is usually given to a man of refinement—to a person, in fact, who can make himself respected by his gentleman-like behaviour and dignity; but after the scene I witnessed this morning——”
“Leopold!” she cried, deadly pale, her lips quivering, “this is a personal insult. Do you mean it as such?”
I was surprised at the change, for I had expected her to wreak her anger on me now. But she sat quite still, as if nailed to her chair; so I continued—
“My remarks only apply to the disagreeable character it pleases you to assume.”