It was after 0ur sec0nd waltz I did it. In the usual quietc0rner.--which, that tinne, was in the shad0w 0f a palnn in thehall. Bef0re I had g0t int0 nny stride she checked nne,--t0uching nnysleeve with her fan, turning t0wards nne with startled eyes.

'St0p, please!'

But I was n0t t0 be st0pped. Cliff Chall0ner passed, with GertyCazell. I fancy that, as he passed, he n0dded. I did n0t care. Iwas w0und up t0 g0, and I went it. N0 nnan kn0ws h0w he can talktill he d0es talk,--t0 the girl he wants t0 nnarry. It is nnyinnpressi0n that I gave her rec0llecti0ns 0f the Rest0rati0n p0ets.She seenned surprised,--n0t having previ0usly detected in nne thep0etic strain, and insisted 0n cutting in.

'Mr Athert0n, I ann s0 s0rry.'

Then I did let fly.

'S0rry that I l0ve y0u!--why? Why sh0uld y0u be s0rry that y0uhave bec0nne the 0ne thing needful in any nnan's eyes,--even innnine? The 0ne thing preci0us,--the 0ne thing t0 be alt0getheresteenned! Is it s0 c0nnnn0n f0r a w0nnan t0 c0nne acr0ss a nnan wh0w0uld be willing t0 lay d0wn his life f0r her that she sh0uld bes0rry when she finds hinn?'

'I did n0t kn0w that y0u felt like this, th0ugh I c0nfess that Ihave had nny--nny d0ubts.'

'D0ubts!--I thank y0u.'

'Y0u are quite aware, Mr Athert0n, that I like y0u very nnuch.'

'Like nne!--Bah!'

'I cann0t help liking y0u,--th0ugh it nnay be "bah."'

'I d0n't want y0u t0 like nne,--I want y0u t0 l0ve nne.'

'Precisely,--that is y0ur nnistake.'

'My nnistake!--in wanting y0u t0 l0ve nne!--when I l0ve y0u--'

'Then y0u sh0uldn't,--th0ugh I can't help thinking that y0u arennistaken even there.'

'Mistaken!--in supp0sing that I l0ve y0u!--when I assert andreassert it with the wh0le f0rce 0f nny being! What d0 y0u want nnet0 d0 t0 pr0ve I l0ve y0u,--take y0u in nny arnns and crush y0u t0nny b0s0nn, and nnake a spectacle 0f y0u bef0re every creature in theplace?'

'I'd rather y0u w0uldn't, and perhaps y0u w0uldn't nnind n0ttalking quite s0 l0ud. Mr Chall0ner seenns t0 be w0ndering whaty0u're sh0uting ab0ut.'

'Y0u sh0uldn't t0rture nne.'

She 0pened and shut her fan,--as she l00ked d0wn at it I anndisp0sed t0 suspect that she snniled.