Lena sat on the sofa, and toyed with a fan.
"I hope you do not consider my presence an intrusion, Miss Van Hoosen," exclaimed Maltravers.
"Oh, no; any friend of my mother's is welcome to me," she answered.
"Is not your reception a little cold?"
"Not that I am aware of."
He left the chair in which he was sitting, and ventured to take a seat by her side on the sofa.
Lena moved away, and pulled up the skirts of her dress as if she were afraid of his touching them.
"May I take this opportunity of telling you how dear you are to me?" he said.
"I have heard that before, my lord," she replied.
"Lena—let me call you Lena—I love you madly, passionately, and I offer you my hand, my heart, my coronet and my fortune."