“But, Renata, Renata, darling!” stammered the young man even more desperately. Jane assumed what Cousin Louisa had once described as “that absurdly grand manner.” It was quite kind, but it induced the young man to believe that Jane was conversing with him from about the distance of the planet Saturn.
“I think,” she said, “that you must be taking me for my cousin, Renata Molloy.”
“But I’m engaged to her—no, I mean to you—oh, hang it all, Renata, what’s the sense of a silly joke like this?”
Jane looked at him keenly. “What is my cousin’s middle name?” she inquired.
“Jane. I hate it.”
“Thank you,” said Jane. “My name is Jane Renata Smith, and I am Renata Jane Molloy’s first cousin. Our mothers were twin sisters, and I have always understood that we were very much alike.”
“Alike!” gasped the young man. Words seemed to fail him.
Jane bowed slightly and began to walk away, but, before she had gone a dozen paces, he was beside her again.
“If you’re really Renata’s cousin, I want to talk to you—I must talk to you. Will you let me?”
Jane walked as far as the next seat, and sat down with resignation.