“Then you are not equal to this ball to-night?” said she, after a pause of some minutes. I turned as she spoke; her words had struck audibly upon my ear, but, lost in my revery, I could but repeat my own fixed thought,--how strange to be so situated! “You are really very tiresome, Signor; I assure you, you are. I have been giving you a most elegant description of the Casino _fête_, and the beautiful costume of our Lisbon belles, but I can get nothing from you but this muttered something, which may be very shocking for aught I know. I’m sure your friend, Major Power, would be much more attentive to me; that is,” added she, archly, “if Miss Dashwood were not present.” “What! why! You don’t mean that there is anything there--that Tower is paying attention to--” “_Madre divina_, how that seems to interest you, and how red you are! If it were not that you never met her before, and that your acquaintance did not seem to make rapid progress, then I should say you are in love with her yourself.” I had to laugh at this, but felt my face flushing more. “And so,” said I, affecting a careless and indifferent tone, “the gay Fred Power is smitten at last!” “Was it so very difficult a thing to accomplish?” said she, slyly. “He seems to say so, at least. And the lady, how does she appear to receive his attentions?” “Oh, I should say with evident pleasure and satisfaction, as all girls do the advances of men they don’t care for, nor intend to care for.” “Indeed,” said I, slowly, “indeed, Senhora?” looking into her eyes as I spoke, as if to read if the lesson were destined for my benefit. “There, don’t stare so!--every one knows that.” “So you don’t think, then, that Lucy,--I mean Miss Dashwood--Why are you laughing so?” “How can I help it; your calling her Lucy is so good, I wish she heard it; she’s the very proudest girl I ever knew.” “But to come back; you really think she does not care for him?” “Not more than for you; and I may be pardoned for the simile, having seen your meeting. But let me give you the news of our own _fête_. Saturday is the day fixed; and you must be quite well,--I insist upon it. Miss Dashwood has promised to come,--no small concession; for after all she has never once been here since the day you frightened her. I can’t help laughing at my blunder,--the two people I had promised myself should fall desperately in love with each other, and who will scarcely meet.” “But I trusted,” said I, pettishly, “that you were not disposed to resign your own interest in me?” “Neither was I,” said she, with an easy smile, “except that I have so many admirers. I might even spare to my friends; though after all I should be sorry to lose you, I like you.” “Yes,” said I half bitterly, “as girls do those they never intend to care for; is it not so?”