“Oh!” and she smiled with just such graciousness as a woman might show in accepting a compliment from a comparative stranger. “Thank you!”
“When I think of it,” said he, “it seems strange that you—ah—never took pains to—eh—to appear at your best—nay, I should say, as your real self!—before me.”
“Oh, you allude to my wearing this gown? Why, you must pardon my not having received you ceremoniously. Your visit began unexpectedly.”
“Then somebody else is about to begin a visit that is expected?”
“Didn’t you know? I thought all the house was aware Major Colden was to return in a week. He may be here to-night, though perhaps not till to-morrow.”
“Confound that man!” This to himself, and 220 then, to her: “I was of the impression you did not love him.”
“Why, what gave you that impression?”
“No matter. It seems I was wrong.”
“Oh, I don’t say that,—or that you’re right, either.”
“However,” quoth he, with an inward sigh of resignation, “it is for him that you are dressed as you never were for me!”