"Ah, now you have skipped to me. I'm not pretending there isn't an evil spirit in me to match yours. It split away from me and became Nelly O'Neill. You asked which I was? I am both. Here, I am a respectable governess. Let me ring for Mrs. Lee Carter. She'll give you my character. The white fire and all that." She pressed the bell.
"Don't be so absurd. Give me time to collect my senses."
"All right, pick up the pieces, while I collect these." She stooped over the bits of glass.
"But for Heaven's sake don't bring that woman into it—"
The door opened. "Yes, miss?"
"Another glass, please." The servant disappeared.
"I do hope you won't break this one. In what country is it that the bridegroom breaks a glass in the marriage ceremonial? Oh, yes, I remember. Fossy told me. Among the Jews. There's a lot in the profession. Not that it's such a marrying profession. And to think I might have been a regular bride! But I've lost you, my dear boy, hero of a hundred hill-fights, I know it—and the moment you've picked your little bits of senses together, you'll know it, too. Alas, we shall never go tiger-hunting together.
"'A night of memories and of sighs
I consecrate to thee.'"
"I don't say I won't keep my promise," he said sulkily.
"Your promise! Hoity toity! Upon my word! I'm no breach-of-promise lady—Chops and tomato sauce indeed! I recognise that we could never marry. There would always be that between us!"