“Ask me no questions, and I'll tell thee no lies.”
“You are cruel; you are trifling with me!”
She stopped and looked up quickly into his eyes. For a moment she hesitated, then resolutely said:
“Mr. Gunther, I like you very much. Don't talk to me like this. I want to find pleasure in your society, but I shall not if you talk so to me. I am not and have never been cruel, and it never entered my head to trifle with you—never!”
“Forgive me this time. I shall never offend again.”
He looked so distressed that Mercedes felt very sorry for him. She would have comforted him if she could. They walked in silence a few steps, but as he still looked pale, she did not wish the other ladies to see him. They were walking towards the house. Pointing to a narrow path leading towards the seashore, she said:
“That path goes to your boat-house, I suppose.”
“Yes. I have a new boat; would you like to see it?”
“Is it far? You see it is getting late.”
“We can come back in ten minutes.”