"I will teach you to love me, darling. Come, say that you will let me take you away from this house, where I can see that they hate you, and make your life more happy. I will do anything to further your happiness, Bonnibel," urged the colonel. "What you wish is quite impossible, sir. I beg that you will dismiss the subject, my dear, kind friend, and forget it," repeated Bonnibel, earnestly. "I will not take _no_ for an answer," replied the colonel, obdurately. "I have taken you by surprise, and you do not know your own mind, my dear little girl. I will give you a week to decide in. Think of all the advantages I can offer you, Bonnibel, and of my devoted love, and say _yes_ when I come back for your answer." So saying he abruptly took his leave. CHAPTER XIV. "Mother, Bonnibel has refused Colonel Carlyle." Mrs. Arnold looked up from the sofa where she lay reading a novel by the gas-light with a start of surprise. Felise had come into the room as quietly as a spirit in her white dressing-gown. "Mercy, Felise, how you startled me!" she exclaimed. "I had just got to such an exciting part where the heroine was just about to be murdered by her jealous rival when in you came with your long hair and trailing white wrapper, like Lady Macbeth walking in her sleep. I almost expected to hear you exclaim: "'Here's the smell of the blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand!'" "You are quite dramatic to-night, mother--your novel must be an exciting one," said Felise, with a slight sneer. She came forward and sat down in a large easy-chair opposite her mother. She looked pale, and her eyes burned with repressed excitement. "It is," said Mrs. Arnold, "the most thrilling book I have read lately. But what were you saying when you came in and frightened me so?" "I said that Bonnibel had _refused_ Colonel Carlyle," repeated Felise, distinctly. Mrs. Arnold sat up with her fingers between the pages of her book, whose interesting perusal she felt loth to stop. She said, half stupidly: "Oh, she has, has she? Well, it had to come to that, sooner or later, you know, my love." "Indeed?" answered Felise, shortly. "Well, you know we have been expecting it some time, Felise, ever since Colonel Carlyle lost his heart about her. I must say his conduct to you has not been that of a gentleman, my dear." "I quite agree with you," said Felise dryly. She was very quiet, but her small hands were tightly clenched. She seemed "to hold passion in a leash" by a strong effort of will. "But how did you find it out?" inquired her mother, thinking that Felise was taking it quite calmly, after all. "As I find out most things--by keeping my eyes and ears open!" retorted her daughter, tartly. "When did it happen?" "This afternoon, while you were out calling on the Trevertons." "Was the old fool much cut up about it?" inquired Mrs. Arnold, inelegantly.