'Then, in that case, I fear poor Bevil will be out of the running,' said Dalton; 'he has some expectations, I know, but they are very remote, I fear. We cannot, however, control our hearts, nor, when in love, do we care about calculating eventualities,' he added, very pointedly, while taking Mrs. Trelawney's delicate and shapely little hand between his two, but she withdrew it, and, while discharging a whole volley of expression by one flashing œillade of her hazel eyes, she exclaimed, laughingly,
'Take care, Captain Dalton, or I shall be led to infer that you are falling in love with me.'
'You know that I have done so—that I have loved you since the first moment we met.'
She was laughing excessively now, and Dalton felt that a lover laughed at had little hope of success, so he said, gravely,
'I hope you are not playing fast and loose with me and my friend Wilmot.'
'Have you no better opinion of me, Captain Dalton?'
'He gave me to understand that you declined his addresses.'
'Whatever they may be—yes,' replied the smiling widow, 'but I would not have mentioned the matter, as he seems to have done—poor Jerry!'
'Why mock my earnestness?' asked Dalton, in a pointed tone of voice.
'Because you cannot love me as I would wish to be loved.'