I know now," she said, stealing a look at him, "that
you are of an unforgetting, unforgiving temper." Then looking away,
she added, "I thought better of you once."
"There are some things," answered L'Isle, but in a softened tone, "not
to be forgotten, nor easily forgiven."
"I assure you," said Lady Mabel, with the air of a penitent, "I have
been terribly ashamed of myself ever since. Had I known that you still
viewed my thoughtless conduct as a serious wrong to you, I would
willingly have made you any apology, any reparation."
"Apologies would hardly reach the evil," said L'Isle. "But any
reparation! That is a broad term."
"Any, I mean, that you ought to ask, or I to make."
"There would be no absolute impropriety in my asking a good deal,"
said L'Isle, in tones that reminded Lady Mabel of some witching
moments in Elvas, "I will not make the blunder of asking too little,"
he added resolutely. "Let me first ask when you will be at home
to-morrow--at three?"
"Certainly at three; more certainly at two," she answered in a low
tone.
"And most certainly at one," said he joyously. "I like your
superlative degree of comparison.
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