"Oh, they don't want that, Olive." Verena's smile became more distinct, and she added: "They don't want so much as that!"
"Well, then, go in and speak for them—and sing for them—and dance for them!"
"Olive, you are cruel!"
"Yes, I am. But promise me one thing, and I shall be—oh, so tender!"
"What a strange place for promises," said Verena, with a shiver, looking about her into the night.
"Yes, I am dreadful; I know it. But promise." And Olive drew the girl nearer to her, flinging over her with one hand the fold of a cloak that hung ample upon her own meagre person, and holding her there with the other, while she looked at her, suppliant but half hesitating. "Promise!" she repeated.
"Is it something terrible?"
"Never to listen to one of them, never to be bribed——"
At this moment the house-door was opened again, and the light of the hall projected itself across the little piazza. Matthias Pardon stood in the aperture, and Tarrant and his wife, with the two other visitors, appeared to have come forward as well, to see what detained Verena.
"You seem to have started a kind of lecture out here," Mr. Pardon said. "You ladies had better look out, or you'll freeze together!"