"I haven't anything of the kind," she answered, in tones of strong vexation. Guided by instinct, she resolved to be as prosaic and matter-of-fact as possible; so she added: "I have only aunt's smelling-salts in my hands, and she needs them." "I need _you_ far more than Mrs. Arnot needs her smelling-salts," he said tragically. "Mr. Haldane, such talk is very absurd," she replied, half ready to cry from nervousness and annoyance. "It is not absurd. How can you trifle with the deepest and holiest feelings that a man--of which a man--feels?" he retorted passionately, and growing a little incoherent. "I don't know anything about such feelings, and therefore cannot trifle with them." "What did your blushes mean this evening? You cannot deceive me; I have seen the world and know it." "I am not the world. I am only a school-girl, and if you had good sense you would not talk so to me. You appear to think that I must feel and do as you wish. What right have you to act so?" "The truest and strongest right. You know well that I love you with my whole soul. I have given you my heart--all there is of me. Have I not a right to ask your love in return?" Laura was conscious of a strange thrill as she heard these passionate words, for they appeared to echo in a depth of her nature of which she had not been conscious before. The strong and undoubting assurance which possessed him carried for a moment a strange mastery over her mind. As he so vehemently asserted the only claim which a man can urge, her woman's soul trembled, and for a moment she felt almost powerless to resist. His unreserved giving appeared to require that he should receive also. She would have soon realized, however, that Haldane's attitude was essentially that of an Oriental lover, who, in his strongest attachments, is ever prone to maintain the imperative mood, and to consult his own heart rather than that of the woman he loves. While in Laura's nature there was unusual gentleness and a tendency to respect and admire virile force, she was too highly bred in our Western civilization not to resent as an insult any such manifestation of this force as would make the quest of her love a demand rather than a suit, after once recognizing such a spirit. She was now confused, however, and after an awkward moment said: "I have not asked or wished you to give me so much. I don't think you realize what you are saying. If you would only remember that I am scarcely more than a child you would not talk so foolishly. Please let me go to my aunt." "No, not till you give me some hope. Your blushes prove that you are a woman." "They prove that I am excessively annoyed and vexed." "Oh, Laura, after raising so many hopes you cannot--you cannot----" "I haven't meant to raise any hopes." "Why were you so kind to me at first?" "Well, if you must know, my aunt wished me to be. If I had dreamed you would act so I would not have spoken to you."