'Someone else! Yes, of course; that's it. Well, I want you to marry me,
Eugenia, because I want to get you away from everyone else. You see
my point?'

She laughed. 'Oh, jealousy! That's the last straw. Do you know that
you're a nuisance, Cecil?'

'Because I love you?' he said, trying to look into her sly Japanese
eyes.

She avoided his glance.

'Because you keep on bothering. Always writing, always telephoning,
always calling! As soon as I've disposed of _one_ invitation or excuse
to meet, you invent another. But this last idea is quite too
exasperating.' She spoke more gently. 'Don't you know, Cecil, that I've
been a widow for years? Would I be so ridiculous as to marry again? Why,
the one thing I can't stand is being interfered with! I prefer, far
prefer, being poor and alone to that. Now what I want you to do is to
marry someone else. I have an idea who I should like it to be, but I
won't talk about it now. It's the most charming girl in the world. I
shan't tell you her name, that would be tactless. It's that lovely Miss
Verney, of course. She's much too good for you--an heiress, a beauty,
and an orphan! But she's wonderful; and she really deserves you.'

He stopped her.

'How heartless you are!' he said admiringly.

'Really not, Cecil. I'm very fond of you. I'd be your best friend if