"Nothing! A little Bridge, a few riding parties, some sails on the Bay, with an occasional homily by Miss Erskine, when she had me cornered, and I couldn't get away. Then is when I learned what a deep impression you had made!" she laughed. "We both were learning, it seems," he replied. She looked at him, inquiringly. "I don't quite understand," she said. "You made an impression, also--of course, that's to be expected, but this impression is much more than the ordinary kind!" _"Merci, Monsieur_," she scoffed. "No, it isn't _merci_, it's a fact. And he is a mighty good fellow on whom to make an impression." "You mean, Mr.--Macloud?" "Just so! I mean Macloud." "You're very safe in saying it!" "Wherefore?" "He is absent. It's not susceptible of proof." "You think so?" "Yes, I think so!" "I don't!" She shrugged her shoulders. "For he's coming back----" "To Hampton?" "To Hampton." "When?" she said, sceptically. "Very soon!" "Delightfully indefinite!" she laughed. "In fact, within a week." She laughed, again! "To be accurate, I expect him not later than the day-after-to-morrow." "I shall believe you, when I see him!" incredulously. "He is, I think, coming solely on your account." "But you're not quite sure?--oh! modest man!" "Naturally, he hasn't confided in me." "So you're confiding in me--how clever!" "I could tell some things----" "Which are fables." "----but I won't--they might turn your head----" "Which way--to the right or left?" "----and make you too confident and too cruel. He saw you but twice----" "Once!" she corrected. "Once, on the street; again, when we called in the evening--but he gave you a name, the instant he saw you----" "How kind of him!" "He called you: 'The Symphony in Blue.'" "Was I in blue?" she asked. "You were--and looking particularly fit." "Was that the first time you had noticed it?" she questioned blandly. "Do you think so?" he returned. "I am asking you, sir." "Do I impress you as being blind?" "No, you most assuredly do not!" she laughed. He looked at her with daring eyes. "Yes!" she said, "I know you're intrepid--but you _won't_!" "Why?--why won't I?" "Because, it would be false to your friend. You have given me to him." "I have given you to him!" he exclaimed, with denying intonation. "Yes!--as between you two, you have renounced, in his favor." "I protest!" "At least, I so view it," with a teasingly fascinating smile. "I protest!" he repeated. "I heard you." "I protest!" he reiterated. "Don't you think that you protest over-much?" she inquired sweetly. "If we were two children, I'd say: 'You think you're smart, don't you?'" "And I'd retort: 'You got left, didn't you?'" Then they both laughed. "Seriously, however--do you really expect Mr. Macloud?" she asked. "I surely do--probably within two days; and I'm not chaffing when I say that you're the inducement. So, be good to him--he's got more than enough for two, I can assure you."