"They seemed to be in earnest. They said that you were about to marry some girl of your mother's choosing."
"Well, what then? That was reason enough why you should have laughed at it."
"But you hesitated. You looked at me with a wicked smile."
"No wonder. Who could help laughing at such folly?"
"Folly—is it folly? Just now your face is pale, but when I look at you a hot red comes about your eyes. I don't like it—I don't like it!"
"Is it strange that a sensible fellow can't help blushing when the girl he loves makes a fool of herself?"
Judith looked in that keen, sinister face with misgiving; but Storms had gained full command of his countenance now, and met her scrutiny with a smile.
"Come, come," he said, "no more of this nonsense. There isn't any such girl as you are dreaming of in the world."
"Oh, Richard, are you telling me the truth?" questioned the girl, clasping her hands, and reaching them out with a gesture of wild entreaty.
"The truth, and nothing but the truth, on my honor—on my soul!"