'What _do_ you mean? I _am_ nice. Don't you come here whenever you like--or nearly? Didn't I dine with you once--a year or two ago? I forget, but I think I did.'
'Then it must have been with somebody else. Of course I didn't. I shouldn't dream of such a thing.'
'Someone else! Yes, of course; that's it. Well, I want you to marry me, Eugenia, because I want to get you away from everyone else. You see my point?'
She laughed. 'Oh, jealousy! That's the last straw. Do you know that you're a nuisance, Cecil?'
'Because I love you?' he said, trying to look into her sly Japanese eyes.
'Because you keep on bothering. Always writing, always telephoning, always calling! As soon as I've disposed of _one_ invitation or excuse to meet, you invent another. But this last idea is quite too exasperating.' She spoke more gently. 'Don't you know, Cecil, that I've been a widow for years? Would I be so ridiculous as to marry again? Why, the one thing I can't stand is being interfered with! I prefer, far prefer, being poor and alone to that. Now what I want you to do is to marry someone else. I have an idea who I should like it to be, but I won't talk about it now. It's the most charming girl in the world. I shan't tell you her name, that would be tactless. It's that lovely Miss Verney, of course. She's much too good for you--an heiress, a beauty, and an orphan! But she's wonderful; and she really deserves you.'
'How heartless you are!' he said admiringly.
'Really not, Cecil. I'm very fond of you. I'd be your best friend if you'd let me, but I shan't speak to you again or receive you at all unless you promise not to repeat that nonsense about marrying. I know how horridly obstinate you are! Please remember it's out of the question.'
At this moment the servant brought in a letter to Mrs Raymond. As she read it, Cecil thought she changed colour.
'It's only a line from Sir Charles Cannon,' she said.
'Really, Cecil! What right have you to ask? I certainly shan't say. It's about his ward, if you must know. And now I think you'd better go, if you will make these violent scenes.'
'You must let me come soon again,' he said rather dejectedly. 'I'll try not to come tomorrow. Shall I?'
'Yes, do try--not to come, I mean. And will you do everything I tell you?'
