This "word of honor" made me laugh.
"Oh, do not laugh," she broke in with eagerness, "or else I must say to you to-day what you said to me yesterday: 'Why do you laugh so much?'" And after a short silence she continued: "Do you remember, yesterday we were talking of wings? My wings are grown—but where shall I fly?"
"What are you saying!" I replied. "To you all ways are open."
Assja looked in my eyes long and keenly.
"You have a bad opinion of me today," she said, and drew her eyebrows together.
"I have a bad opinion? Of you!"
"What is the matter with you two to-day?" Gagin interrupted me. "Shall I play a waltz for you as I did yesterday?"
"No, no," exclaimed Assja, clasping her hands together—"not for the world to-day."
"I won't insist—be easy."
"Not for the world," she repeated, and her cheeks grew pale.