"Not until this moment. I offer my congratulations, and I am proud, gracious lady, that you initiate me with such confidingness into your family affairs."
"Do you know," cried Bella quickly, "do you know that I promise myself a great deal of pleasure from you?"
"From me? What can I do?"
"That is not my meaning, to speak in direct terms. I have thought a great deal about you. You are of an impulsive disposition, but you are still an enigma to me, and I hope that I also am to you."
"I had not allowed myself, indeed—"
"I allow you to allow yourself. Then, Herr Captain, or Herr Doctor, or Herr Dournay, but, at any rate, Herr Neighbor, we will make a contract. I shall try to resolve for myself the contradictions and oddities of your nature, and make such investigations as I am able to; on the other hand, I allow you to do the same with me. Do you not find this attractive?"
"Attractive and dangerous."
Bella straightened herself up, and Eric continued:—
"Dangerous for me, for you know what friend Hamlet says, that if our deserts are known, 'who can escape a whipping?'"
"I am glad that you are not polite, but neither should you be diffident."