“And on that evening I asked you to marry me!” I exclaimed, with a laugh like a groan. “What fools men sometimes make of themselves! But never mind. I’ve pulled the knife out of my side—the wound, I say, is healed. This is my little folly—but the farce is played out, and I am obliged to you for letting the curtain fall, and turning us all out before the tragedy began. Let us join the others. If your husband and I are to love each other, I mustn’t begin by making him jealous.”
“One word, Charlie—what do you think of Theresa?”
“I like her very much,” I answered, looking into those blue eyes of hers, in whose depths I had so often sank out of sight of common sense.
“Are you in love with her?”
“I am,” I exclaimed, emphatically.
Quite a bright smile shone in her face.
“That confession makes me happy,” said she; “for it satisfies me that I have not betrayed so very devoted a heart, after all!”
She opened the door and passed out.
Hush! hark! what was that?
A scream, followed by a gurgle! Good heavens! my aunt was in hysterics again! My hat was within reach of my hand; two strides would take me to the door.