"On my honor," he replied, placing his hand on his heart, and bowing with mock gravity.
She was silent a moment, feeling a momentary embarrassment over her promise. He would think her fanciful certainly, perhaps be displeased.
"I am growing very curious," he observed.
"You need not be—— it is nothing of any consequence," she said. "It is only that before you came out on the balcony I was startled by observing the vivid likeness that exists between Lilia and Irene. They are like enough to be sisters. And when you came upon the scene my wonder only grew. Irene is enough like you to be your daughter."
She need not have been afraid that he would laugh at her—that he would think her fanciful. He started and gazed at her with wide, dark eyes and ashen, parted lips.
"Like Lilia! like me!" he repeated, strangely.
"Yes," she answered. "Enough like Lilia to be her sister, enough like you to be your child."
"Before God, I believe that she is!" he answered, startlingly.
She gazed at him in wonder.
"I do not understand you," she said, wondering if her old friend had gone mad.