Bernard had thought it possible she
had "improved," and she was certainly prettier than ever. He instantly
perceived that she was still a chatterbox; it remained to be seen
whether the quality of her discourse were finer.
"Well, Mr. Longueville," she exclaimed, "where in the world did you drop
from, and how long did it take you to cross the Atlantic? Three days,
eh? It could n't have taken you many more, for it was only the other day
that Gordon told me you were not to sail till the 20th. You changed
your mind, eh? I did n't know you ever changed your mind. Gordon never
changes his. That 's not a reason, eh, because you are not a bit like
Gordon. Well, I never thought you were, except that you are a man. Now
what are you laughing at? What should you like me call you? You are a
man, I suppose; you are not a god. That 's what you would like me
to call you, I have no doubt. I must keep that for Gordon? I shall
certainly keep it a good while. I know a good deal more about gentlemen
than I did when I last saw you, and I assure you I don't think they
are a bit god-like. I suppose that 's why you always drop down from the
sky--you think it 's more divine. I remember that 's the way you arrived
at Baden when we were there together; the first thing we knew, you
were standing in the midst of us.
Pages:
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171