"I trust," replied Mr. Cottrell, laughing, "you will have a good afternoon. I reverence you as a young lady who wagers with infinite discretion." And so saying, he moved off to talk to other acquaintance.
Lionel Beauchamp had seated himself next Blanche, and, assisted by a slight movement of the young lady's chair in his favour, found that he had successfully obtained the tête-à-tête for which he had manoeuvred.
"I want you to do me a favour, Miss Bloxam," he observed.
"Certainly, Mr. Beauchamp, if I can; what is it?"
"I want you to promise to join a water party that four of us are organizing for this day fortnight; but we mean to go down the river instead of up. We intend chartering a steamer, and so be quite independent, as we shall carry our own commissariat with us."
"I have no doubt mamma will say yes if we have no other engagement.
But favour for favour—I have one to ask of you; will you grant it?"
"I answer as you did—most certainly if I can."
"Ah, but you must answer differently; you must say 'certainly' without any conditions."
"That is impossible; one cannot quite pledge oneself to that. It is not very likely that I shall refuse you."
"But you are refusing me now. I want you to say 'certainly' without any reservation whatever."