"Well," he said, "it's not often offered with a ring. Will you take another cup?"
She pushed hers toward him and asked if he had any brandy in the house.
South nodded at a liquor stand, but suggested _crème de menthe_.
"It's not for me," she explained, "but for my driver--he's got an awful cough; I've been listening to it up here all the time. Could you send him a glass?"
"The man on my hansom; he's been waiting for me."
"No, no, silly!--it's Veynes' hansom; he sent it round for me. The driver of Veynes' hansom has a cough, you have some brandy, and I want you to send it down by your man to the driver, that his cough may be stayed. Now do you understand?"
"No, I do not," he said; but he did as she desired.
"I suppose that is a fresh indiscretion," she remarked, as the man retired.
"I suppose it is," he replied, "but the freshness need not count for much among so many. Is Veynes coming here for you?"
"Mercy, no!" she laughed. "He wouldn't quite understand it; it doesn't occur to him that a girl who kicks her skirts about at so much a week can ever want anything of a man but flattery and new frocks. A good deal of dullness goes with a title, you know."
"If by dullness you mean bewilderment, I might be a duke. Will you explain?"
"Oh, no, I understand that; you've tried to make me envy Tantalus before; but why you've forgotten your prudence and your promises--I used to believe in both--and what has become of your chaperon; and how deep Lord Veynes is in it."
She left all but the last question unanswered, and said, looking from him toward the fire:
She missed the quick spring of his eyes to her face, but she met them the next moment.
"You might have said _him_," she remarked; "however, it's good of you not to jump--but you always could sit still. I know you're saying something nasty inside of you; mayn't I hear it?"
"I don't think I am," he replied. "I was wondering precisely where I came in?"
"You come in here," she laughed, with halting mirth; "you're the oracle; you roll out the future in a hollow voice; you say what you think."
"No, I forgot," she ran on, "you never do; you say what you think some one else will think of what you wouldn't say if you thought it; isn't that it? You explained it to me once, but it wasn't clear. Well, say that! Say something! You've known Veynes longer than I have; say he's not good enough for me!"