"Again I have expressed myself poorly!" he laughed. "What I mean is, I never had the moonlight, and the inclination, and _you_ all together." "I cannot answer for the inclination," she replied, "but as you have the moonlight and me, for the last four years, I may be pardoned if I doubt it." "But do you doubt it?" he insisted. "Certainly, I doubt it!--what woman would not?" "No man would, if he could see you, now." "Fol-de-rol!" she laughed, and snapped her fingers in his face. "Am I different from what I was last week, or last month, or last year?" "No, you are not," said he. "I recognize it, now. Alas! that I did not recognize it sooner." "And you expect me to believe?" she mocked--though her eyes belied her tones, had she but let him see them. "No! all I can ask is that you be merciful." "Do you even expect mercy?" "After a time--when you have revenged yourself sufficiently." "Revenged myself!" she quoted. "For what, pray?" "For my blindness----" She laughed, a light, alluring laugh. "Revenge is for a wrong done.--You have not wronged me. You have always been my good friend--the best friend a woman ever had." He moved to catch her; she eluded him and sprang away, out of distance. "Fie! Mr. Maynadier, you forget the dignity due a Governor's Councillor." "I am apt to forget many things," said he, laughing, "with such a teasing beauty just out of reach." "Where she will take care to hold herself until you are better mannered. What has come over you, Dick, you used to be proper enough--too proper, indeed." "You little flirt!" he exclaimed, "what has come over _you_, you better say--where did you learn such tricks?" "Not from you, sir." "No, not from me--God save the mark!" "But you seem to like them, Dick," she said. "Don't you wish it had been you who taught me?" "No!" he said. "No; I would rather _you_ taught _me_." "I am afraid you could never learn!" she laughed. "Try me!" he begged. "I have unsuspected possibilities." She looked at him with eyes half closed, a roguish, enticing look. "And you think I could develop them?" she asked. "I am sure you could." "Better let Miss Stirling try--she can teach you far better than I.--Besides, I think she would welcome the opportunity." "Miss Stirling has enough to do with the young men," he answered. "I fancy you will find her very willing to take another." "Where there are so many pupils, the instruction can not be thorough," he objected. "Have you ever heard of the _favorite pupil_, sir?" she asked, with a sly smile. "Indeed, I am very much of the opinion she would even drop all the others, if you applied." "You flatter me!" he remarked. "Do I?" she asked, "well, I am not so sure; you see, she does not know you quite so well as some others do. And, if you are clever, she may never find you out." "Lucky me!--You advise me, then, to take lessons from Miss Stirling?"