“And one which is not of a very feminine nature, now confess.”
“True, I find you anything but silly or fickle in disposition. But I give you credit for a good quality.”
“In any case, confess that it is not a graceful one.”
“Oh! You have so many others!”
“I did not ask you for a compliment.”
“You must accept it now, all the same.”
She looked at him with an air of simple content, then shook her head.
“That is not right of you; you have broken our agreement. It was understood between us that you should treat me as a companion, in return for which I would allow you to accompany me in my walks, and call on me unceremoniously. But you are a Frenchman, and it is impossible for you to give up all pretensions to gallantry.”
“Would an Italian have stayed so long in your company without telling you how charming you are?”
“Yes, if I had forbidden him to speak of such things. But he would have thought the more!”