Father asked her if she were not going back to the ball room.
“Oh, dear, no,” she said, drawing off her gloves, “I had much rather stay here and talk with John; beside, I am tired. I had a long sail on the lake to-day, and drove out with Cousin Herrara this afternoon. Please unfasten my bracelet,” and she extended her arm to me.
As I took her soft white arm in my hand can you wonder that I pretended to be awkward, that I might prolong the undoing of it?
“Apropos of the ball, John,” she said, while I was fumbling at the bracelet, “Mr. Monte asked the privilege of introducing two friends, Mr. Finnock and Mr. Smith. Did he refer to you?”
I told her he did, and what a romantic fervor I felt after I had seen her at the railway, and she and father rallied me on losing it as soon as I found her out, and mother helped me to deny it, and we were all so pleasant together we forgot the lapse of time. Looking at my watch and finding it nearly day, I bade them good night, and went to my room.
Like a child with a new toy, I felt a continual surprise and delight that the brilliant belle of the Springs was my Carlotta. Mine? The thought of Cousin Herrara placed a very large mark of interrogation after that word. As all indications pointed to the fact that she was his, and would ere long leave our home, the question came to me, bitterly: Can I give her up?
[CHAPTER XXXV.]
A late breakfast found Mr. and Mrs. Marshman and myself at the table, Finnock and the two young ladies having gone for an ante-gestacular walk.