"I am," she insisted, her hand resting in mine.
"Why?"
"Why, because I--I am in love with Walter Butler--and--and I never liked a man as well as I like you!"
I was astounded. She sighed, slowly shaking her head. "That is it, you see. Love is very different from having a good time. He is so proud, so sad, so buried in noble melancholy, so darkly handsome, and all afire with passion--which advances him not a whit with me nor commends him to my mercy--only when he stands before me, his dark golden eyes lost in delicious melancholy; then, then, Carus, I know that it must be love I feel; but it is not a very cheerful sentiment." She sighed again, picking up her fan with one hand--I held the other.
"Now, with you--and I have scarce known you a dozen hours--it is so charming, so pleasant and cheerful--and I like you so much, Carus!--oh, the sentiment I entertain for you is far pleasanter than love. Have you ever been in love?"
"I am, Elsin--almost."
"Almost? Mercy on us! What will the lady say to 'almost'?"
"God knows," I said, smiling.
"Good!" she said approvingly; "leave her in God's care, and practise on me to perfect your courtship. I like it, really I do. It is strange, too," she mused, with a tender smile of reminiscence, "for I have never let Captain Butler so much as touch my hand. But discretion, you see, is love; isn't it? So if I am so indiscreet with you, what harm is there?"
"Are you unhappy away from him?" I asked.
"No, only when with him. He seems to wring my heart--I don't know why, but, oh, I do so pity him!"
"Are you--plighted?"
"Oh, dear me, yes--but secretly. Ah, I should not have told you that!--but there you are, Carus; and I do believe that I could tell you everything I know if our acquaintance endures but twelve more hours. And that," she added, considering me calmly, "is rather strange, I think. Don't you?"
Ere I could reply came Sir Peter, talking loudly, protesting that it was a monstrous shame for me to steal away their guest, that I was a villain and all knew it, he himself best of all; and without more ado he tucked her arm under his and marched triumphantly away, leaving me there alone in the deserted room.
But as Elsin gained the door she turned, looking back, and, laying her hand upon her lips, threw me a kiss behind Sir Peter's shoulders.