“Why else did you make up as a Friend then?”
“Oh! Oh, dear, these men! There’s conceit for you! I chose my costume solely to trap Mr. Bransford’s eye? Is that it? Doubtless all my thoughts have centered on Mr. Bransford since I first saw him!”
“You know I didn’t mean that, Miss Ellinor. I——”
“Miss Hoffman, if you please!”
“Miss Hoffman. Don’t be mean to me. I’ve only got an hour——”
“An hour! Do you imagine for one second——Why, I mustn’t stay here. This is really a farewell dance given in my honor. We go back East day after to-morrow. I must go in.”
“Only one little hour. And I have come a long ways for my hour. They take their masks off at midnight—don’t they? And of course I can’t stay after that. I want only just to ask you——”
“Why did you come then? Isn’t it rather unusual to go uninvited to a ball?”
“Why, I reckon you nearly know why I come, Miss Hoffman; but if you want me to say precisely, ma’am——”