"Yes; I hope your serene highness has no objection to that arrangement?"
"It would be of no use my objecting, I suppose!"
"Of none whatever. But it would be unpleasant."
"Oh, you would still go then, whether I liked it or not?"
"I'm afraid the temptation to travel about Europe in your company would be too strong for me!"
"How silly you are, Ancram!" said Miss Kilfinane, looking up half shyly, half tenderly. But she met no answering look from Algernon. He had just come upon a song that he wanted to try, and was drawing it out from under a heap of others in the portfolio.
"Look here, Castalia," he said, "I wish you would play through this accompaniment for me. I can't manage it."
It will be seen that Algernon had become familiar enough with Miss Kilfinane to call her by her Christian-name. And, moreover, he addressed her in a little tone of authority, as being quite sure she would do what he asked her.
"This?" she said, taking the song from his hand. "Why do you want to sing this dull thing? I think Glück is so dreary! And, besides, it isn't your style at all."
"Isn't it? What is my style, I wonder?"