“I thought you never made compliments,” she said with a little pleased laugh.
“You see your weak eyes are strong enough to keep me here.” And rising to go, he extended his hand.
“Ah! do not go yet.” And taking his hand, she almost detained it gently. “I am so glad to see you once more.”
Vane laughed again. “Have you read De Musset’s ‘Il faut qu’une porte soit ouverte ou fermée’?”
“No; but I will read it. Why?”
“Because my calls resemble that one. I am continually opening the door to go. Now if my call could have the same ending!” he added gallantly.
She colored. “She has read it,” thought Vane. “Halte-là!” And this time, perhaps rather precipitately, he took his leave for good. Miss Thomas gave another of her little pleased laughs, after he had closed the door. Vane had been thoroughly amused, and walked in a very contented frame of mind to John’s. Coming into his smoking-room, he took a cigar and threw himself at full length upon the lounge. He could afford occasionally to smoke and take life easily now; it was different with him from the times, three years back, when he used to get his own breakfast in the little rooms on Washington Place.
“Well, old man, how goes it?” said John, looking up with a light of friendship in his gray eyes which Vane’s coming always brought to them.
“Capitally! I have been passing the afternoon with Miss Thomas.”
“And how was she? Fascinating as ever?”