This sounded a little more sweet than Joan’s famous “voices”. However, while the dance was going on I could not give him any reply. He must have seen this, for he came to a stop. We were standing in an empty corner of the room, and could continue the conversation without being overheard.
“Speak, countess; what have I to hope?”
“I do not understand you,” was my insincere reply.
“Perhaps you do not believe in love at first sight? I myself held it a fable till now, but to-day I have experienced the truth of it.”
How my heart beat! but I was silent.
“I have leapt head over heels into my fate,” he continued. “You or no one! Decide then for my bliss or my death, for without you I neither can nor will live. Will you be mine?”
To so direct a question I was obliged to give some reply. I sought for some extremely diplomatic phrase which without cutting off all hope would sacrifice nothing of my dignity, but I got out nothing more than a tremulous whispered “yes”.
“Then may I to-morrow propose for your hand to your aunt, and write to Count Althaus?”
“Yes” again, this time a little firmer.
“Oh, what happiness! So at first sight you love me too?”