“Well,” said she, drawing a long breath, “Nature, you have turned out a com-plete article this time, I reckon.” Then, as Severne laughed merrily at this, she turned her candle and her eyes full on him very briskly. She looked at him for a moment, with a gratified eye at his comeliness; then she started. “Oh!” she cried.
He received the inspection merrily, till she uttered that ejaculation, then he started a little, and stared at her.
“We have met before,” said she, almost tenderly.
“Have we?” said he, putting on a mystified air.
She fixed him, and looked him through and through. “You—don't—remember—me?” asked she. Then, after giving him plenty of time to answer, “Well, then, I must be mistaken;” and her words seemed to freeze themselves and her as they fell.
She turned her back on him, and said to Zoe, with a good deal of sweetness and weight, “I have lived to see goodness and beauty united. I will never despair of human nature.”
This was too pointblank for Zoe; she blushed crimson, and said archly, “I think it is time for me to run. Oh, but I forgot; here is my card. We are all at that hotel. If I am so very attractive, you will come and see me—we leave town very soon—will you?”
“I will,” said Rhoda.
“And since you took me for an old acquaintance, I hope you will treat me as one,” said Severne, with consummate grace and assurance.
“I will, sir,” said she, icily, and with a marvelous curl of the lip that did not escape him.