"It would mean so much to me. I should like you to know that there was no one in the room except myself listening to you."
"Quite so. But never mind that now, though."
He spoke in such a decided tone of voice that it seemed as if he was defending something from her. She could not understand for what reason her request could have been distasteful to him, and she continued:
"So then it is settled: to-morrow at five o'clock in the evening at your house?"
"Yes, I am curious to see whether you will like it there."
"Oh, of course I shall. Surely it will be much nicer being at your house than at that place where we have been this evening. And shall we spend the evening together? Do you know, I am just thinking whether I ought not to see my cousin…."
"But, my dearest one, please, don't let us map out a definite programme."
In saying this he put his arm round her neck, as if he wanted to make her feel the tenderness which was absent from the tone of his voice.
"Emil!"
"Well?"