ΤΠΕ STORY OF A BLUE VEIL.123
“Oh! of course. Everything I do now is ab- §
surd. I have been fond of you for two years, :
and now you drop me for that man.”
“Redwood, if you will be a bore,.I shall go? and leave you.”
“No, don’t go, Tony. Only promise me you won’t have anything more to do with Fauntle- roy.”
“I will make no promises.”
“By heavens! if you flirt with him, I'll shoot him."
I laughed. Redwood immediately dropped the heroics and became pathetic.
«At any rate, tell me which you like the best— him or me?”
“I like you the best, of course. Don’t be silly, please.”
“Then, Tony, prove it by giving me a kiss.”
As Redwood was in the habit of kissing me morning and night, as if he had been my brother, this request struck me as being par- ticularly nonsensical.
“I'll give you twenty,” I said, “if you will agree to take yourself off, and leave me to myself for the rest of the day.”
“I won’t have your twenty kisses,” was all the reply I got; and Redwood flung himself out of the room.
By evening he had changed his mind in regard to the ‘prigs” invitation, and went with us.
We found only a small party, but the guests particularly well selected. Mr. Fauntleroy made a capital host. He opened countless portfolios of engravings and cabinets of curiosities for our inspection; and he asked the right people to sing at the right time. Every one seemed to enjoy themselves, and feel perfectly at home in the pretty, tasteful house.
The evening was nearly spent, when I wan- dered off by myself from room to room, until I reached a cozy little study, with low, carved, well-filled book-cases, shaded light, and table temptingly covered with books and magazines. I selected a deep, soft chair and a favorite periodical, and prepared to enjoy myself after my own fashion.
But it was not long before I was interrupted. I heard Mr. Fauntleroy’s voice speaking in the next room, giving some order to a servant, and in another minute he had entered the study.
“You here!” he exclaimed. ‘I fancied you had gone down to the Cliffs'with your cousin.”
“No; I discovered this cozy little place, and Ihave made myself comfortable, as you see.”
“It is where I spend most of my time,” he said, seating himself near me. “I like to see you here.”
“Pray, what are all the people doing?” I in quired, wondering how I could get away.
“I am sure Ido not know. We will hope they are amusing themselves, and will continue so to do without us.”
“Don’t you think it would be better to join them?” I arose as I spoke.
“Stay where you are, if you please, Miss Tony,” and I was put gently into my chair again. ‘So you think thisis a cozy room? It opens here, you see, upon the lawn, and there into a conservatory—the flowers thrive all the year round. When I am home many a winter morning have I spent here, with only my dog fora companion. By-the-way, where is Pug?”
He whistled, and presently came a little pattering along the piazza, and a scratch at the closed blinds. Mr. Fauntleroy pushed them open sufficiently to admit the dog. ‘Here is an acquaintance of yours, Pug.”
Pug recognized me at once, and even showed some pleasure at my presence, for he selected a portion of my long skirt, which fell in a heap on the floor, and curled himself comfortably upon it.
«Luxurious little beast! He takes your being here as a matter of course, and makes use of you immediately.”
‘He does quite right,” I said, leaning down to touch the dog’s head. ‘I like you, little Pug, in spite of the shabby trick you played me.”
“You have forgiven him, then?”
“Oh, yes!”
«And his master?”
“I shall forgive you when you return my veil.”
‘When will that be, I wonder? It depends upon yourself.”
“Upon me? Then it will be tonight.”
“Tonight, if you like. You have only to agree to my conditions.”
“What are they?”
“I am afraid you will make difficulties. But I warn you, beforehand, I am an obstinate man, and will have my own way in the end.”
“Tell me.”
‘In the first place, then, I am to have this in exchange,” and he touched my hand.
“Of course, that’s nonsense.”
“Indeed, it is not. I must imperatively have you in exchange.”
“Are you in earnest?”
“Very much in earnest.”
«Tell me the second condition.”
‘You consent to my first?”
“No,” I said, trying to laugh. “How am I to believe that you really wish it?”
‘Look at me.”
