Tom stared at her with his astonished eyes wide open.
"You can laugh at me!" he exclaimed. "Why, all these weeks you have let me go on loving you, and never hinted that it was so very disagreeable."
"Now, Tom, don't be tiresome!"
Tom groaned aloud.
"Why I never saw such conduct!" cried Elsie, impatiently. "It's too bad of you to behave so—you are spoiling my whole evening! You are just as disagreeable as you can be. Oh, I hate you!"
"Elsie! Elsie!"
"Let go my hand; suppose anybody should come in! Oh, you old goose of a Tom—let me go, I say."
"Just one minute, Elsie—"
"To-morrow—any time! Don't you know civilized beings never behave in this way at a ball."
"I don't know—I can't think! I only feel I love you, Elsie, and must speak out. I will speak out."