"Yes," I said, colouring, "but you know no one will ask us. We go nowhere; we see no one, not even artists. I wish you would see artists." "I don't care about English artists," he replied, drily. "Well then, Irish." "Still less. The three kingdoms and the principality do not yield one with whom I would care to spend an hour." "But I want to see artists." "And am I not an artist?" "Oh! I know you so well! What is your friend Armari like?" "A good-looking Italian," replied Cornelius, whistling carelessly, with his hands in his pockets, "rather given to be in love with every woman he sees." "And Mr. Schwab?" "A good-looking German, and a professed woman-hater." "I wish they would come." "But they won't," he said, with evident satisfaction. "You are glad of it!" I exclaimed a little indignantly. "You are glad that I have no parties to go to; that I see no one." I turned away half angrily; he caught me back, ardently entreating me not to be vexed with him; "He could not bear it," he said. Astonished and mute, I looked up into his bending face. The time had been when I had trembled before a look and a frown, and now a petulant speech of mine distressed him thus. "Forgive me," he earnestly continued, "for not having forestalled your wishes; but I cared so little for other society than yours, that I forgot mine might not be to you so delightful and engrossing. A party, I cannot command, but I shall take you to the play this very evening." I wanted to refuse, but he would hear of no objection, though I told him plainly he had not the money to spare. "And if it is my pleasure to spend on you the little I have--what about it, Daisy?" At length I yielded; and, on his request, went up to ask Kate to join us. She refused peremptorily, and said she liked home best. As she helped me to finish my toilet, she gave me sundry instructions concerning my behaviour. I was to let Cornelius be civil to me, it was his turn now, and if he picked up my glove, carried my shawl or put it on, I was to take it as a matter of course. "Very well, Kate," I said, "but it is odd." "Why so!" "I don't know, but it is odd." We were entering the parlour where Cornelius stood waiting for me. I gave him the shawl I had brought down on my arm. "You are to put that on me," I said, "for Kate says you are to be civil to me; so I hope you will, and not disgrace me in the face of the whole house by any want of proper attention due to the sex. I cannot go and tell the people 'you need not wonder at his being so rude; it is all because he knew me when I was a little girl.'" "Impertinent little thing," observed Kate, "I only told her not to be civil to you." "Well, am I? I spoke as impertinently as I could. Did I not, Cornelius?" "Indeed you did," he replied, smiling, and helping me to pin my shawl on. "Have you any more commands for me?" "Only just to hold my fan, my gloves, my scent-bottle, my handkerchief, and to give me your arm."