“Poor fellow!” she said, pressing closer to my side.
“O, Min,”—I went on,—“if you only knew the agony I have suffered in thinking that you cared for some one else! I love you so much, that I am jealous of every word you speak, every glance of your darling eyes which is not directed to me. I envied my very dog the other day because you caressed him!”
“What!” she exclaimed, “Jealous of poor Catch! Do you know, Frank, that made me ove you first, your fondness for your dog and little Dicky Chips!”
“You do love me, then? O, Min, my darling!” I exclaimed in ecstasy.
“I didn’t say so, did I?” she said, saucily. “Well, then,” I entreated, “say it now, sweet! Say that you love me, my darling!”
“You are much too exacting, sir!”—she said, drawing herself up with the air of a haughty little Empress.—“I must consider your petition first.”
“But you do love me, darling; so why cannot you say it? Tell me, pet, ‘Frank, I love you;’ and, you’ll make me happy for ever!” I pleaded.
“I shan’t be ordered,” she said, with a piquante coquetry which made her appear all the more winning.—“I’m not going to tell you anything of the kind, for I won’t be dictated to; but, I’ll say ‘I love you, Frank.’ There! sir, will that please your lordship, although it is not in the exact words you have asked me?”—and she made a pretty little gesture of affected disdain.
“O Min, my love! my pet! my darling!”—said I, rapturously—
I stopped, breathless with emotion. I could not get out a word more!