Jerry felt that in this remark he had made somewhat of a 'header;' but fanning herself, she said calmly:
'I believe in you, Mr. Vane; is not that the highest trust one creature can give another?'
'May I not implore you to call me Jerry, as—as of old?' he asked, in a tremulous voice.
'When alone—yes.'
'Mr. Vane sounds so odiously formal after—after——' his lip quivered.
'Well—Jerry it shall be.'
'Thanks, dear, dear Ida; I begin to hope again.'
Poor Jerry did begin indeed to have fresh hope; and are we not told that its promises are sweeter than roses in the bud, and more flattering to expectation?
'Combine love with friendship, Ida,' he urged, softly, with the tip of his moustache almost touching her ear, 'and its tranquillity will be great and happy.'
She could not, without growing interest and tenderness, see the mournful love-me look that his eyes wore; yet she said, over her bouquet of stephanotis, Beverley's favourite flower and perfume: