“I am at your service,” I said, and Herrara rose up from the piano languidly and said:
“Mr. Smith will escort you back, Lola; I’ll go to the billiard room.”
“May I tell him, Herra?” asked Carlotta, as he walked off; “it’s such a short time.”
“I don’t care,” he replied, as he lifted his hat gracefully and left the parlor.
“May I ask what it is you wish to tell?” I said, feeling an interest in all secrets between them.
“Everybody believes here that Cousin Herrara and I are engaged, and I assure you it is very inconvenient, for it deprives me of a quantity of attention which you know I would receive, and I believe from your conduct you have fallen into the same error.”
“I have had sufficient reason for such a belief,” I replied.
“Well, it’s no such thing. He is engaged to a lady in Madrid. He returns to Cuba next month, and then sails to Spain for his beautiful bride.”
“Then you are still in the market?” I said, with an unaccountable feeling of relief at my heart.
“Of course I am,” she replied, as we ran across the street to Congress Hall.