“But you will love me by to-morrow,” I replied soothingly.  “I may ask you again, may I not?” and then she looked so pitiful, with the tears rolling from her frightened eyes and her hand trembling in mine, that I thought I would put my arm around her—­to comfort her, you know.  “Poor child!” I said, drawing her to me as they do in the theatre, “you don’t know your own heart:  rest here.”

I wish you had seen her!—­I wish you had seen her!  She drew herself from me quivering with indignation, her eyes% sparkled, and she was in such a rage that she could hardly speak, but after an effort she broke forth in a torrent of words:  “I have an utter contempt for you, and I will bear this no longer.  You think you are irresistible—­that all the girls are in love with you—­that your wealth buys you impunity—­that your position will excuse your rudeness—­and that you can dispense with politeness because your name is Highrank!  I would like to box your ears.  I despise you and your behavior so thoroughly that were you a hundred times in earnest in asking me to marry you, I would refuse you a hundred times!” Then she rushed past me, and I was so astonished that I did not try to prevent her.

The idea of her refusing me, and in such a manner!  No wonder if she should end badly.  Mrs. Stunner was right.  However, I am glad she did refuse me, for she must certainly be a little wrong in her head.  Wonder if her ancestors were insane or anything.  She was deuced handsome when she got angry.  Never saw a woman angry at me before:  something very queer about her.  Had a contempt for me, too!  Why should she have that?  I don’t understand it.  Said I was conceited—­that I thought all the girls would marry me.  And so they would, all but herself; and that shows there is something odd about her—­not at all like any other woman.  Deuced glad she did not take me at my word.  Queerest thing!  She cried when I put my arm around her:  never knew a woman would cry at that before.  Little Eva wouldn’t.  I believe I like tender women best—­at one time I thought they were not nice.  What a fool I was!  What should I do with a wife I could not kiss?  I wonder if Blanche will speak to me again?  Maybe all this was a dodge, women have so many; but she looked in earnest.  I might have frightened her by being so sudden, but why the deuce should women be frightened at proposals, when they pass their lives in trying to get them?  So Mrs. Stunner said.  Poor birdie!, what a soft hand she has!  Maybe some women are modest:  I will ask Hardcash about it.  She may not have known what she was saying—­agitated, and all that sort of thing.  I will see how she acts to-night—­need not ask her again if she is not civil.  Eva will comfort me if I need it.  What a sweet voice she had till she got angry! but she was very odd.