"No, no," I replied, "let's stay and see the fun."
"Not till I persuade you to relent," replied Langley to Mary's oft-repeated request.
"Yes you will. Get up off your knees immediately, or I vow I'll box your ears."
"Strike!" cried Langley, with a theatrical air and tone, at the same time unbuttoning his vest, "strike! and wound the heart which beats for you alone!"
Slap—came Mary's delicate hand across the cheek of her disconsolate lover, with a force which brought an involuntary "ouch!" from his lips. "Get up, I say!" Whack—slap—came two more blows, first on one side of his head and then on the other.
"By G——d! madam!" sputtered Langley, rising in a rage, "I wish you were a man for half a minute."
"Why," said Mary, "in that case you couldn't make love to me with any sort of propriety. Hold, hold, Willy, dear! don't go off angry; sit down here, I insist; nay, now, I'll box your ears again if you don't obey me; there, you'll feel perfectly cool in a moment. For shame! Bill, to get angry at a love-tap from a lady!"
"Love-tap, indeed," muttered Langley, rubbing his cheek. "See where your confounded ring scratched my face."
"Did it? Oh! I'm so sorry!" said Mary. "Hold here, while I kiss the place to make it well; there now, don't it feel much better? See! I've got my lips all blood, haven't I? Shall I wipe it off with my handkerchief, or—"
Langley took the hint and kissed the rich ripe lips of his lovely companion, red with nothing but her own warm blood.