He started, and his face reddened.
“That’s impossible, Bella,” he said, quickly. “I’ve got an—an important engagement.”
“Oh! you’ve—got—an—important—engagement, have you?” she said, with slow contempt; “then you’ll have to put your important engagement off for one more important still.”
The sweat started out on his forehead, and he wiped it away covertly.
“Don’t be absurd, Bella,” he said, with a sickly smile. “I tell you I can’t meet you to-morrow—not at that time. I’ll meet you at night, or the next day.”
“No you won’t; to-morrow night I shall be gone. Four o’clock in the afternoon, please; and you may as well bring a few notes with you—say for a hundred. I’m rather short just now.”
He affected consternation.
“A hundred pounds! You must think I’m made of money! Well, you shall have it, for—for the sake of old times. But you needn’t trouble to come for it, Bella. I’ll send it to you here——”
She smiled.
“No, you won’t. I’ve a fancy for making you bring it—just for the sake of old times! You seem very disinclined to meet me to-morrow; what’s your reason, I wonder?” and she eyed him suspiciously.