"Then she hasn't encouraged you?"
"By Jupiter! you are frank enough now.—No, damn it—not a bit.—But she used to like me, and she would again, if you would let her alone."
"Now, Mr. Percy, I'll tell you what.—I don't believe you are a bit in love with her."
"She's devilish pretty."
"Well?"
"And I declare I think she got prettier and prettier every day till this cursed ague took her.—Your fault too, my mother says."
"We'll leave your mother out of the question now, if you please. Do you know what made her look prettier and prettier—for you are quite right about that?"
"No. I suppose you were giving her arsenic."
"No. I was giving her the true elixir vitae, unknown even to the
Rosicrucians."
Percy stared.