Be air, and dew, and light, and fire,
To keep the soul-flower growing;
Be less—thou art no love of mine,
So leave my love in peace;
’Tis helpless woman’s right divine—
Her only right—caprice!
—Osgood.
Viola did not lose much sleep over Florian’s going that night, for a pleasant excitement had been mixed with her thoughts by Philip Desha’s unexpected call, and her engagement with him for tomorrow.
She thought, mischievously:
“He is putting himself in my power, and no man has resisted me yet when I chose to exercise it. What fun to lead him on a little just to pay him out for detesting flirts!”