"Undoubtedly," I nodded; "but you see when I was foolish enough to
give that promise your very excellent Aunt made no reference to her
intentions regarding a certain Mr. Selwyn."

"Oh!" exclaimed Lisbeth. And feeling that I had made a point, I
continued with redoubled ardour:

"She gave me to understand that she merely wished you to have time
to know your own heart in the matter!" Now, as I said before, how
long will it take you to find out, Lisbeth?"

She sat chin in hand staring straight before her, and her black
brows were still drawn together in a frown!" But I watched her
mouth - just where the scarlet underlip curved up to meet its fellow.

Lisbeth's mouth is a trifle wide, perhaps, and rather full-lipped,
and somewhere at one corner - I can never be quite certain of its
exact location, because its appearance is, as a rule, so very
meteoric - but somewhere there is a dimple!" Now, if ever there
was an arrant traitor in this world it is that dimple; for let her
expression be ever so guileless, let her wistful eyes be raised with
a look of tears in their blue depths, despite herself that dimple
will spring into life and undo it all in a moment!" So it was now,
even as I watched it quivered round her lips, and feeling herself
betrayed, the frown vanished altogether and she smiled. "And now,
Dick, suppose you give me my - my - "

"Conditionally," I said, sitting down beside her.