I?"

"No--you don't look it; but looks are deceptive."

"There I agree with you,"--I said--"But one has to go by them
sometimes. If I am 'neurotic,' my looks do not pity me, and my
condition of health leaves nothing to desire."

His brows met in a slight frown. He glanced at his watch.

"I must go,"--he said--"Miss Harland will be waiting."

"And the electricity will get cold!" I added, gaily. "See if you can
feel my 'neurotic' pulse!"

He took the hand I extended--and remained quite still. Conscious of
the secret force I had within myself I resolved to try if I could
use it upon him in such a way as to keep him a prisoner till I chose
to let him go. I watched him till his eyes began to look vague and a
kind of fixity settled on his features,--he was perfectly
unconscious that I held him at my pleasure,--and presently,
satisfied with my experiment, I relaxed the spell and withdrew my
hand.

"Quite regular, isn't it?" I said, carelessly.

He started as if roused from a sleep, but replied quickly:

"Yes--oh yes--perfectly!--I had almost forgotten what I was doing. I
was thinking of something else. Miss Harland--"