"No, the word 'poison.' Love is not a poison; it is an elixir." She winds her arms round his neck, and murmurs, "It has given me a new life. The world is more beautiful than it used to be I am sure." He smiles at her sentiment. "I remember telling you once that _you_ had a strong will of your own, Nelly." "I haven't that much," she says, placing the nail of her thumb to the tip of her little finger. "Not that much!" "But you are a cunning puss, for all that," he says, as he draws her face to his. They are in the cottage now, and she is sitting on his knee. "You want to fly away from the subject we were speaking of, so my strong will must bring you back to it. Well, I'll be content with a compromise. Who is this lover that so limits your knowledge?" "I shall not tell you that, sir. You must guess it--if you can! As _if_ you could! No, I'll not say! I can keep a secret. Oh, you may laugh, but I can!" "Well, then, where is he?" "Where? Why, thousands of miles away of course!" "Let me not catch him!" he cries gaily. "Well, now, pet, to spite that person, who I hope will not suffer _very_ much in consequence, I intend to stop with you a whole fortnight." Her face lights up with joy. "I have important business in London," he continues, with a sly laugh; "oh, most important! My presence is imperatively required in the great city. The interests of an influential client depend personally upon me, so Lady Temple has given me leave of absence. Confiding old soul!" "Lady Temple is the same as ever?" "The same as ever. No change. Fretful and peevish, throwing out all sorts of dark innuendoes one minute, and smiling upon me the next. Now a lamb, now a tigress. I have the temper of an angel, Nell, or I could never stand it. But I humour her--for your sake, pet, as well as my own. Our future depends upon her. "Does she speak of me?"