"My name is Chiquita."
He repeated it after her. "It's pretty. What is your last name?"
"That is it. If I told you my first name, you could not use it; it
would not be proper."
"It ought to be something like Ariel. That means 'spirit of the air and
water,' I believe. Ariel Chiquita. No, they don't go together. What are
you laughing at?"
"To see you scratch your neck."
Anthony became conscious of a growing sensation where the strange pod
had dangled against his skin, and realized that he had been rubbing the
spot for some time.
"You did not know it was the cow-nettle, eh?"
"You enjoy seeing me suffer," he said, patiently.
"You do not soffer," she retorted, mimicking his tone. "You only eetch!
You wish me to sympathize."
"See here, Miss Chiquita, may I call on you?"
"Oh!" She lifted her brows in amazement. "Such ideas! Of a certainly
not."
"Why?"
"You do not onderstand. Our young men do not do those things."
"Then I'll do whatever is customary--really I will, but--I'm awfully
anxious to see you again--and--'
"I do not know you--My father--"
"I'll look up Mr. Chiquita and be introduced."
At this the young lady began to rock back and forth in an abandon of
merriment. The idea, it seemed, was too utterly ridiculous for words.
Her silvery laughter filled the glade and caused the jealous waterfall
to cease its music.
"No, no," she said, finally. "It is impossible. Besides, I am doing
penance. I can see no one. In the city I cannot even sit upon the
balcony." She fetched a palpably counterfeit sigh, which ended in a
titter.
Never had Kirk beheld such a quaintly mischievous, such a madly
tantalizing creature.
"Say! You're not really going to marry that fellow!" he exclaimed, with
considerable fervor.
She shrugged her shoulders wearily. "I suppose so. One cannot forever
say no, and there are many reasons--"
"Oh, that's the limit. You'll go nutty, married to a chap you don't
care for."
"But I am naughty, now."
"Not 'naughty'--nutty. You'll be perfectly miserable. There ought to be
a law against it. Let me call and talk it over, at least. I know all
about marriage--I've been around so many married people. Promise?"
"I cannot let you 'call,' as you say. Besides, for two weeks yet I must
remain here alone with Stephanie." She regarded him mournfully. "Every
day I must do my penance, and think of my sins, and--perhaps look for
orchids."
He saw the light that flickered in the depths of her velvet eyes, and
his heart pounded violently at the unspoken invitation.
"To-morrow?" he inquired, breathlessly. "Do you intend to hunt orchids
to-morrow?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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