Julius did not mistake the refusal; but he was not to be so easily discouraged.
"Are you also engaged for the quadrille after that?"
"I am."
There was less firmness in her tone; he thought it trembled.
"And .... I hope I am not intrusive .... and the next?"
Rose fancied that a refusal would look like fear, so she mastered her voice, and replied, with the stereotyped smile,—
"I shall have much pleasure."
He bowed, and withdrew.
Rose's gaiety was somewhat damped; she tried to be lively, but there was a depression on her spirits she could not shake off. It seemed as if her eyes could fix themselves nowhere but in the direction in which Julius stood.
She tried to look away, but she soon found herself again watching him.