"You take it very coolly," remarked the gentleman, rather taken aback
himself. "You don't appear the least surprised."

"Of course not! I told you I was used to it. Never knew a gentleman of
taste to see me play yet and not take a violent fancy to me. Pray go
on."

If Miss Dane wished, in her wickedness, to utterly disconcert her
middle-aged admirer, she could not have adopted a surer plan. For fully
five minutes he sat staring in hopeless silence.

"Have you anything more to say?" queried the dauntless Mollie, pulling
out her watch. "Because, if you have, you will please say it at once.
My time is precious, I assure you. Rehearsal is at three, and after
rehearsal there are the spangles to sew on my dress, and after that--"

"I beg your pardon, Miss Dane; I have a great deal more to say, and if
you will listen you need never attend rehearsal again, and never sew on
spangles any more."

"Indeed!"

The blue eyes opened very wide in a fixed, unwinking stare.

"I like you very much, Miss Dane--so much that I think it is a thousand
pities you should waste your youth, and beauty, and genius on desert
air. So--"

"Yes," said Miss Dane--"so you have fallen in love with me at first