"I don't know what to say," she murmured. "Give me time."
"Say yes," he murmured amorously.
Suddenly some one behind them coughed discreetly. Virginia, startled, sat up in confusion. She and Stafford had been so completely engrossed that they had not heard the entrance of Oku, who had come in to announce that dinner was ready.
"Excuse, please! Dinner, it is served!"
His master motioned him to go into the next room.
"Go and tell Miss Blaine and Mr. Gillie," he said in a slightly annoyed tone.
The servant disappeared, and Stafford, inwardly cursing Oku for the interruption, returned to the attack.
"Won't you say yes?" he pleaded.
But the spell was broken—for the time at least. Virginia had risen, and was busy rearranging her rumpled dress.
Glad of the interruption, she shook her head. It was too serious a matter to be settled so quickly. She must have time to think.