“It was I you saw, Fernando; I had on a lilac dress that evening,” said the innocent Emily, blushing.
Muriel winced, for her game was weakened by this avowal, which had brought up the point Fernando was waiting for, and which she did not mean he should have. Fernando, meanwhile, was delighted, for he saw his clear way out.
“You had on a lilac dress that evening!” he said, with an air of surprise, to Emily. “Well, I declare I didn’t notice it. But how does that alter the matter? Oh, I see!” he exclaimed, his face lighting. “It was the lilac dress misled me, for you wore your lilac dress that evening, Muriel. That’s it. My eye caught sight of the dress, and I mistook you for Emily, and retreated before my eye could rectify the error. What an unlucky blunder! I’m very, very sorry. But in the confusion of the moment, I was naturally deceived. Well, well! Muriel, I humbly beg your pardon, not only for having mentioned what I thought I saw to Mr. Harrington—but you won’t blame me for that, for it foolishly came out in the heat of conversation—but for this unfortunate mistake of mine. It was natural, under the circumstances, but it is not the less humiliating. Say that you forgive me, now, do!”
“Oh, well, Fernando,” she replied, nonchalantly laughing, “I must, of course, give weight to your plea of its naturalness under the circumstances. Still, you perceive it was a rather awkward blunder, and it ought to make you more careful for the future.”
“Indeed, it will—I’ll be very careful not to make such a mistake again,” said Fernando, laughing turtle, and quite exhilarated by his lucky escape.
“That’s right,” said Muriel, gaily. “For such a mistake, Fernando, might break up our long acquaintance. At all events,” she pursued, with a laugh, “it might prevent your being honored with such a theatrical reception as I gave you that evening.”
“Theatrical?” said he, smiling; “what do you mean?”
“Why, don’t you remember,” she lightly responded, “how suddenly I struck an attitude, and held out the bunch of flowers to you?”
“Yes, indeed,” replied the jocund Witherlee. “I had forgotten it, but I remember it now. Just as I came in at one door, and you”—