“Never mind. Speak up frankly,” she simply answered.
“You’ve asked me to show as much interest in you as a brother would show for a sister. Is that right, or am I mistaken?”
“No, that is quite right.”
“Well, if you were my sister, I would ask you to do me a great favour, and beg of you not to go to that ball this evening.” She did not answer, but looked him straight in the face. “If you were my sister I should tell you that Vincent and I have made inquiries about the people who are coming to the ball this evening; I should tell you that I know for certain that a great number of the invited guests are even less suited to your circle than some of your uncle’s and aunt’s acquaintances. If you were my sister, I could scarcely express myself in plainer terms than I have done, and I have not a word to add to what I have said; but I hope that you will not misunderstand me, and that you will now have some idea what kind of guests they will be whom you would see there this evening.”
She cast down her eyes and remained silent.
“And, therefore, at the risk of interfering in a matter that does not concern me, at the risk that your uncle and aunt will take [[285]]offence at my interference in your affairs, at the risk that you yourself, after having forgiven me one indiscretion already, will be very angry with me, I ask you once more, do not go to this ball. You are out of place there.”
Still she remained silent, and her fingers clutched nervously at the girdle of her peignoir.
“Are you very angry,” he asked.
“No,” she answered after a pause, very softly. “No, I am not angry, and I shall do as you ask me. I shall not go.”
“Do you really mean it?” he cried delighted.