And I laughed, in unutterable content. "Have none of you!" I cried. "My faith, I would like to see a world which would have none of you! Ah, Signorina, it is very plain to me that you don't realize what a beauty, what a--a--good Lord, what an unimaginative person it was that invented the English language! Why, you have only to be seen, heart's dearest,--only to be seen, and the world is at your feet,--my world, to which you belong of rights; my world, that you are going to honour by living in; my world, that in a little will go mad for sheer envy of blundering, stupid, lucky me!" And I laughed her to scorn. There was a long silence. Then, "I belonged to your world once, you know." "Why, of course, I knew as much as that." "And yet--you never asked--" "Ah, Signorina, Signorina!" I cried; "what matter? Don't I know you for the bravest, tenderest, purest, most beautiful woman God ever made? I doubt you--I! My word!" said I, and stoutly, "that _would_ be a pretty go! You are to tell me just what you please," I went on, almost belligerently, "and when and where you please, my lady. And I would thank you," I added, with appropriate sternness, "to discontinue your pitiful and transparent efforts to arouse unworthy suspicions as to my future wife. They are wasted, madam,--utterly wasted, I assure you." "Oh, Bobbie, Bobbie!" she sighed; "you are such a beautiful baby! Give me time," she pleaded weakly. And, when I scowled my disapproval, "Only till tomorrow--only a little, little twenty-four hours. And promise me, you won't speak of this--this crazy nonsense again tonight. I must think." "Never!" said I, promptly; "because I couldn't be expected to keep such an absurd promise," I complained, in indignation. "And you look so strong," she murmured, with evident disappointment,-- "so strong and firm and--and--admirable!" So I promised at once. And I kept the promise--that is, I did subsequently refer to the preferable and proper course to pursue in divers given circumstances "when we are married;" but it was on six occasions only, and then quite casually,--and six times, as I myself observed, was, all things considered, an extremely moderate allowance and one that did great credit to my self-control. 7 "And besides, why _not_?" I said,--for the eleventh time. "There are a thousand reasons. I am not your equal, I am just an ostensible actress--Why, it would be your ruin!" "My dear Mrs. Grundy, I confess that, for the moment, your disguise had deceived me. But now: I recognize your voice." She laughed a little. "And after all," the grave voice said, which was, to me at least, the masterwork of God, "after all, hasn't one always to answer Mrs. Grundy--in the end?"