He was so madly in love and so proud of having captured Viola’s illusive heart that he would have liked to publish his engagement at once to the whole astonished world.
Viola, now that she had foresworn flirting, would not have objected to his doing so, but in the midst of her keen happiness at having won her lover, a blasting memory had coldly shaken her heart—the thought of her engagement to Florian Gay.
She almost fainted with fear when she remembered that she was not free to accept Philip Desha, since her hand was promised to another.
She thought quickly:
“I will write to Florian and take back my promise, but Philip must never, never know the truth about it, for he has such high ideals, and might blame me for appearing so fickle.”
Her mind ran rapidly over the obstacles in her way, and she decided that her new engagement must not be announced till her old one was broken off—in other words, it was best to be off with the old love before she was on with the new.
So she bound her betrothed by the promise to keep their engagement secret, though he chafed against it, saying:
“I shall not like for people to be saying you are flirting with me as you did with others, my darling.”
The words had a sting for Viola’s heart, and tears flashed into her eyes.
She cried, hastily: