"I will tell you the story another time. It is mixed up now with mine. But I do not wish you to speak of her to her father."
"She is nothing to me; I can promise that easily enough."
I touched the bell, and told James Perry to have the carriage brought at once to the door.
"When shall I see you? To-morrow, really? You know the danger."
"That danger is past," I said, firmly.
"You have more confidence in me than I have."
"After to-night I shall never falter in that confidence."
"I thank you for that, Christabel, I shall try;" and he smiled. As he withdrew his eyes they fell upon the wisp of ribbon lying on the table. He picked it up, gazed at it, then raised it to his lips and laid it again on the table. "You still wish this to be destroyed?" he asked, keeping his gaze averted.
Simple as were the words and the act, I could not find an answer on the instant. "It is best so," I murmured at length.
"Very well," and he turned away. "You are always right. Of course, it's only—folly and—and weakness."