The Champagne did not prevent me from reflecting on the fact that he had not yet asked whether I loved him.
The spirit chorus again floated through my mind:
"Where lovers,
Deep in thought,
Give themselves for life."
I was not allowed to give myself—I was taken.
"No heel-taps," he whispered, "to the bottom quaff."
"Take me home, will you?"
"Mrs. Bliss is not ready."
"Tell her that I must go."
He went behind her chair and whispered something, and she nodded to me to go without her.
When her carriage came up, I think he gave the coachman an order to drive home in a round-about way, for we were a long time reaching it. I kept my face to the window, and he made no effort to divert my attention. When we came to a street whose thick rows of trees shut out the moonlight my eager soul longed to leap out into the dark and demand of him his heart, soul, life, for me.