“No—no more than that.”
“But I am happy—so happy to meet you.”
“Happy, are you? Well, you don’t look so; and, indeed, I haven’t seen anybody look happy for the last six months. Of all the glum wretches that ever existed, all my fellow creatures are getting to be the glummest. Happy! if that is your happy look, I wonder what your dismal one is like.”
“Nonsense, Elfie dear, this is no time for raillery. ‘Great events are on the wing.’ Men have heavy responsibilities just now, as you must know, living in this house. I cannot talk to you on the stairs, dear. Is there no place where you can take me for a quiet tête-à-tête?” inquired Albert.
“Yes; there is the library and the drawing-room, both unoccupied at this hour.”
“Take me to the place where we shall be least liable to interruption.”
“Come to the library, then,” said Elfie, leading the way thither.
When they were seated before the fire, Albert inquired:
“How long have you been here, Elfie?”
“For several weeks. Ever since our house was burned over our heads.”