"I'd much rather she'd be a little pleased."
He laughed in evident gratification, assuring me that she would be very pleased. He answered for her emotions in the true style of the blessed partner; that is an incident of matrimony which I am content to have escaped. I doubted very much whether she were so eager for the renewal of my acquaintance as he declared. I recollected the doubts and fears that had beset her vision of that event long ago. But my part was plain—to go, and to go speedily.
"To the Countess'?" exclaimed Victoria, to whom I mentioned casually my plans for the afternoon. "You're in a great hurry, Augustin."
"It's no sign of hurry to go to a place at the right time," said I, with a smile.
"I don't call it quite proper."
"I go because it is proper."
"If you flirt with her again——"
"My dear Victoria, what things you suggest!"
Victoria returned to her point.
"I see no reason why you should rush off there all in a minute," she persisted.