"'I could hardly put my arms round your neck at once?' I replied.
"'Why not?' he asked, smiling complacently, 'do you think there is no room for you there?'
"'No,' said I, to let him know at once how to take me, 'that room is not the place for me.'
"He looked at me quite taken aback, and then remarked, nodding his head--
"'By Jingo, the little woman is pretty sharp.'
"I was going to reply something, but at that moment papa entered the room.
"At table I constantly kept my eye on the two, without however being able to notice anything suspicious.
"Their eyes hardly met.
"'Afterwards when the old people are taking their nap,' I thought to myself, 'they are sure to try and make their escape.' But I was mistaken. They quietly remained in the sitting-room, and did not even seem anxious to get me out of the way. He sat in the sofa-corner smoking, she, five paces away at the window, with some needlework.
"'Perhaps they are too shy,' I thought, 'and are waiting till an opportunity presents itself.' I marked a few signs and slipped out. Then for half an hour I crouched in my room with a beating heart and counted the minutes till I might go back again.