'My dear little Dulcie, what is the use of all this foolish regard for Florian and revengeful mood at me? We shall never see him again.'
'Oh, Shafto, how can you talk thus coldly of Florian, with whom you went to school and college together, played together as boys, and read together as men—were deemed almost brothers rather than cousins! Shame on you!' and she stamped her little foot on the ground as she spoke.
'How pretty you look when angry! You do not care for me just now, perhaps; but in time you will, Dulcie.'
'Never, Shafto.'
'Surely you don't mean to carry on this game ever and always?'
'Ever and always, while I am a dependant here.'
'But I will take you away from here, and you need be a dependant no longer,' said he, while his countenance brightened and his manner warmed, as he utterly mistook her meaning. 'My allowance is most handsome, thanks to Lord—Lord—to my grandfather, and he can't last for ever. The old fellow is sixty-eight if he is a day. Forget all past unpleasantness; think only of the future, and all I can make it for you. I will give you any length of time if you will only give me your love.'
'Never, I tell you. Oh, this is intolerable!' exclaimed the girl passionately, finding that he still barred her way.
'Beware, Dulcie,' said he, as his shifty eyes flashed. 'The world and success in it are for him who knows how to wait; meantime, let us be friends. Friendship is said to be more enduring than love.'
'Well—we shall never be even friends again, Shafto.'