"No—you don't look it; but looks are deceptive."
"There I agree with you,"—I said—"But one has to go by them sometimes. If I am 'neurotic,' my looks do not pity me, and my condition of health leaves nothing to desire."
His brows met in a slight frown. He glanced at his watch.
"I must go,"—he said—"Miss Harland will be waiting."
"And the electricity will get cold!" I added, gaily. "See if you can feel my 'neurotic' pulse!"
He took the hand I extended—and remained quite still. Conscious of the secret force I had within myself I resolved to try if I could use it upon him in such a way as to keep him a prisoner till I chose to let him go. I watched him till his eyes began to look vague and a kind of fixity settled on his features,—he was perfectly unconscious that I held him at my pleasure,—and presently, satisfied with my experiment, I relaxed the spell and withdrew my hand.
"Quite regular, isn't it?" I said, carelessly.
He started as if roused from a sleep, but replied quickly:
"Yes—oh yes—perfectly!—I had almost forgotten what I was doing. I was thinking of something else. Miss Harland—"
"Yes, Miss Harland is ready for you by this time"—and I smiled. "You must tell her I detained you."