"Will you come to us that evening?" she said. "Will you come to our party? We are giving a party," she went on, and her face began to flush again. "Some people are coming from town. It will be before long, but I'll let you know. What is your answer?"
He did not answer. It was no party for him, his place was not at the Castle.
"You mustn't say No. You won't be bored, I have thought about that and I have a surprise for you."
Pause.
"You cannot surprise me any more," he answered.
She bit her lip; the despairing smile crossed her face again.
"What do you want of me?" she said in a toneless voice.
"I want nothing of you, Miss Victoria. I sat here on a stone and I offered to move."
"Oh well, I was at home with nothing to do, I had been there the whole day, and then I came here. I might have gone up the river another way, then I shouldn't have come just here...."
"My dear Miss Victoria, the place is yours and not mine."