This humiliation would arise from a feeling of duty, and she honoured me by supposing that I had as high principles as herself. But at the same time the motive of self-esteem was also present, and I determined not to do anything which would deprive me of her confidence.
As may be imagined, I did not awake till very late the next morning, and when I rang my bell Clementine came in, looking very pleased, and holding a copy of the Pastor Fido in her hand. She wished me good day, and said she had read the first act, and that she thought it very beautiful, and told me to get up that we might read the second together before dinner.
“May I rise in your presence?”
“Why not? A man has need of very little care to observe the laws of decency.”
“Then please give me that shirt.”
She proceeded to unfold it, and then put it over my head, smiling all the time.
“I will do the same for you at the first opportunity,” said I.
She blushed and answered, “It’s not nearly so far from you to me as it is from me to you.”
“Divine Hebe, that is beyond my understanding. You speak like the Cumaean sibyls, or as if you were rendering oracles at your temple in Corinth.”
“Had Hebe a temple at Corinth? Sardini never said so.”