'Still, if your friends ask you——'
'Some of my friends have asked me.'
'And you did not comply?'
'No; I did not think there was any necessity for complying.'
'But if I were to ask you?' She laid her hand gently, lightly, timidly, on his.
'Ah, well, if you were to ask me, that would be quite a different thing.'
'Then I do ask you,' she exclaimed, almost joyously.
He smiled a bright, half-sad smile upon the kindly, eager girl.
'Well, I promise not to go out alone at night in London until you release me from my vow. It is not much to do this to please you, Miss Langley—you have been so kind to me. I am really glad to have it in my power to do anything to please you.'
'You have pleased me much, yet I feel penitent too.'