"How long, for goodness' sake?"
"I really couldn't possibly tell you offhand. I shouldn't care to bind myself."
"I am desperately impatient to bind you, though," answered Colonel Faversham. "I would see to it we had a good time. There's no wish of yours that shouldn't be gratified—in reason, you know."
"Haven't you discovered by this time how unreasonable I am?" she asked.
"Bridget, come now, be a good girl!" he murmured.
"That shows how little you know me," she returned, "because I'm not in the least good."
"Well, well, call yourself what you please! Only have a little love for me, and I don't care what the devil you are!" exclaimed Colonel Faversham, and at that moment he meant precisely what he said.
"I am not certain I have," she cried, with a laugh. "You see that whatever I may be I am candid. I don't think I have a particle of what I suppose you mean by 'love' for any living being. Perhaps there's something wanting in my constitution. I don't believe I shall ever be capable of 'loving' anybody as long as I live."
"Good gracious," was the answer, "don't tantalize me. Why do you keep me on tenterhooks? Say you will marry me, and we'll leave everything else."
"I can't say so this morning," she insisted. "I can say that I won't if you like."