"No, no;" he took her hand.
"Yes, yes; don't you know, at the stroke of midnight I change back to a governess."
"Well, the magic didn't work, for that clock's very slow. Sit down, please."
"You have spoken the omen. I remain Nelly O'Neill and drop Eileen for ever. Vogue la galère."
"Absit omen!" He shuddered.
"Why not? What do you offer me? The love of one man. But my public loves me as one man—with a much more voluminous love—I love it in return. Why should I change?"
"Shall we say merely because the public changes? I am constant."
"Yes, you are very wonderful.... And if it's to-morrow already, my fate will be settled to-day. Drink to my destiny."
"I drink to our destiny," he said, raising his glass.
"No. Only to mine. It will be decided this afternoon."