"Bless my heart, child!" she said. "I had almost forgotten—But—I'll go and talk to old Janet now." And she disappeared without other apology.
Sallie looked surprised. But Lord Ingoldsby, having cleared his throat again, claimed her attention.
"You've no idea, Lady Josceline," he said hurriedly, "what a deuce of a bât I've been in for nearly a fortnight. I was afraid I'd never find you again. And, now that I've found you, don't y'know, what I want to say to you is—It's very difficult to express—But I mean—What I'm trying to tell you is that I thought we might maybe make a match of it. Will you marry me, Lady Josceline?"
Sallie looked still more surprised. But she was not slow in answering such a preposterous question.
"I can't," she said, concisely.
"But why not?" he cried. "For heaven's sake! don't go so fast. Give me time to—"
"Time couldn't make any difference," she said, seeing that he was very much in earnest. "I can't—"
"But—why not?" he insisted. "Is—is there some one else already? It's not that fellah I met in Monte Carlo with you, I'm sure; he's such a rank outsider—you couldn't care for him, I'm sure. And why not give me just a chance to show you—
"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, Lady Josceline. Give me just a chance."
"I can't," she repeated for the third time, and he stared at her as if in abject despair.