'I think I will ask you to excuse me to-day,' she said in a trembling voice.
'Certainly,' said I, with an involuntary bow, which caused her to look up and redden at this unusual ceremoniousness.
The old footing was, for a time at least, completely destroyed.
'Good-afternoon, Mr. Maude,' she said.
'Good-afternoon,' I repeated.
But, as she took another step and reached the screen, her shy glance met mine; impulsively she stretched out her hand. I seized it, and for one brief minute we looked straight into each other's eyes with the frank confidence of our old friendship: the next, she had broken away, and I was left alone with silent To-to and sympathetic Ta-ta.
END OF VOL. I