“I’m afraid not. I purpose returning by the other road.”
“What road? There is no other road.”
“Across country.”
“Then you do not intend honoring us with a visit?” Her tone was vexed, if not haughty.
Now, he had quitted Monamullin with no other intention than that of proceeding straight to the castle, and yet he replies in the negative. Let those better versed in the mysteries of the human heart than I am analyze his motives. I shall not endeavor to do so.
“Don’t you think you are acting rather shabbily?” she said, preparing to resume her drive.
He laughed.
“Au plaisir, then!” And with a stately salutation, courteous enough but nothing more, she swept onwards.
He watched the phaeton go whirling along the white road and disappear round a huge fern-covered boulder, and his vexation with himself grew intolerable.
“What an ass, what a brute I have been! What could I have been thinking about? Was I asleep or mad? Invited to the house, I actually refuse to pay the stereotyped visit. Why a counter-jumper would know better. How charming she looked! And that delicious blush when she met me! She seemed really pleased, too. What can she think of me? My chance is gone.”