"Ah—no!" she cried—"not you!" and turning suddenly away she broke off a rose that bloomed near by and stood twisting it in her white fingers.
"And wherefore not?" he questioned.
"'Tis not for your lips," she said, softly.
The Major whose glance happened to be wandering, winced slightly and flushed.
"Aye—indeed, I had forgot," said he, rather vaguely—"Youth must to youth and——"
"Must it, sir?
"Inevitably, madam, it is but natural and——"
"How vastly wise you are, Major d'Arcy!" The curl of her lip was quite wasted on him for he was staring at the rose she was caressing.
"'Twas said also by one much wiser than I 'crabbed age and youth cannot live together.' And you are very young, my lady and—very beautiful."
"And therefore to be pitied!" she sighed.