He had bent his gaze upon her, as he said this, and he received a faint fluttering glance as his first reply. Then she said,
"I was scarcely conceited enough to think so, and--and of course I feel the compliment. However, we have met, you see."
"Yes; and so long as that has come about, no matter how late you are; for you see I still hold to my original opinion. However late or early, I must be doubly thankful for the chances of meeting you now. For the season's at an end, and I suppose you will be off with the rest?"
"I suppose so; though nothing is settled, I believe."
"And where do you go?"
"Papa talked of Scarborough some time ago. He has not said any thing about it lately; and as I am wholly indifferent on the subject, I'm very good to him, and let him have his own way."
"Are you similarly complaisant to Mr. Guyon in all things?"
There must have been something special in the tone of his voice; for she looked up quickly with a slight flush, and said,
"In all matters in which I take no particular interest. Where I am concerned I am exigeante, and--I am afraid--stubborn."
"Let us call it 'firm,' Miss Guyon," said Frere, with a slight smile. "Firmness is a quality by no means reprehensible, even when exercised towards one's father. It's a horrible thing this break-up of the season, especially as one gets older. All the little pleasant--well, I suppose I may call them friendships--are nipped in the bud until next April, when one has to begin again and struggle on until August, when we find ourselves in exactly the same position in which we were a twelvemonth before."