Page:Love's trilogy.djvu/71

 'Oh, very well.'

He sat in deep thought. But when the cab stopped, he said—and his voice had again that lovely gentle sound: 'You can believe me or disbelieve me as you please. But I have never before seen a young girl as lovely as you, and I am very, very sorry that you won't meet me again. Good-bye, and many thanks for this evening.' He opened the cab, and when I gave him my hand in farewell, he bent his head and kissed it.

'You can believe me or disbelieve me.' Yes, if I only knew if he was honest or merely acting. But after all it is finished, and so much the better.

Absolutely finished. He did not even propose a new meeting. Surely that does not prove great eagerness on his part to see me again.

The romance is finished, and it is a good thing that it was not more romantic. Without blushing too much, and in the knowledge that it was something quite done with, I could tell mother, who was waiting up for me, a long story about the dinner at Christiane's.

But think, if he had not asked me for the kiss—think if he had continued the bewitching tune—think if he had taken advantage of my weakness!

Are you really a gentleman, Mr. Mörch, or merely a trifle stupid?

19$th$

HRISTIANE came this morning to hear what happened at the rendezvous. Not to disappoint her, and not to make myself ridiculous, I