"I am desperately impatient to bind you, though," answered Colonel
Faversham. "I would see to it we had a good time. There's no wish of
yours that shouldn't be gratified--in reason, you know."

"Haven't you discovered by this time how unreasonable I am?" she asked.

"Bridget, come now, be a good girl!" he murmured.

"That shows how little you know me," she returned, "because I'm not in
the least good."

"Well, well, call yourself what you please! Only have a little love
for me, and I don't care what the devil you are!" exclaimed Colonel
Faversham, and at that moment he meant precisely what he said.

"I am not certain I have," she cried, with a laugh. "You see that
whatever I may be I am candid. I don't think I have a particle of what
I suppose you mean by 'love' for any living being. Perhaps there's
something wanting in my constitution. I don't believe I shall ever be
capable of 'loving' anybody as long as I live."

"Good gracious," was the answer, "don't tantalize me. Why do you keep
me on tenterhooks? Say you will marry me, and we'll leave everything
else."

"I can't say so this morning," she insisted. "I can say that I won't
if you like."

"For heaven's sake, don't do that!" Colonel Faversham quite humbly
entreated.