"Because," I replied, "you may like her better than you do me."
"Impossible!" he cried with a gesture absolutely tragic in its intensity. "I dislike her very name--'Miss Aurelia Blunt!'"
"That's unjust!" I cried, really angry, "Aurelia is a fine name; and she may have a pet name, you know."
"Only one Miss Blunt with a pet name for little Willie!" said he. "My little Dolly!"
But I tied him down with a promise that before he saw me again he'd call on Aurelia. When I saw him next he looked guilty, and said he had found her out when he called. I scolded him cruelly, and made him promise again. The fact was that when he called I couldn't find it in my heart to sink to the prosaic level of Miss Aurelia Blunt. I had had the sweetest, most delicious courtship that any girl _ever_ had, up to this time, and I was afraid of spoiling it all. I was afraid sort of on general principles, you know, and so was "out." And after he went away I stole down into the park in my electric runabout and talked to Mr. Lincoln about it. He seemed to know. When I went away, I left a little kiss on the monument.
Billy was perfectly cringing that next day when he had to confess that he had failed on what he called "this Aurelia proposition." He begged to be let off.
"You see," said he, "she may give me a frigid reception, and take offense at my delay in presenting this letter. Amelia may have written her, and she may be furious. There may be some sort of social statute of limitations on letters of introduction, and the thing may have run out, so that I'll be ejected by the servants, dearie. And, anyhow, it will place me in an equivocal position with Mr. Blunt--my coming to him as a tramp, and holding so very lightly the valuable social advantage of an acquaintance with the family. He won't remember that he jumped on me with both feet and gave me six months on bread and water. It--it may queer me in the business."
I here drew myself up to my full height, and froze him as I have seldom done.
"Mr. Helmerston," said I, "I have indicated to you a fact which I had supposed might have some weight with you as against sordid and merely prudential considerations--I mean my preferences in this matter. It seems, however, that--that you don't care the least little bit what _I_ want, and I just know that you don't--care for me at all as you say you do; and I'm going home at once!"