Arnault must give him some hold upon
her," he thought, "and for her father's sake she cannot yield to me at
once, but she will eventually."
Mr. Arnault came forward with smiling lips, light words, yet resolute
eyes. Graydon felt that he had received all the assurance that he
needed--that she was under some necessity of keeping his rival in
good-humor--so he smiled significantly into her eyes, and bowed
himself away.
"Muir looked as if he had received all the comfort that he required,"
Arnault said, as they strolled across the parlor, now deserted.
"Did he? Well, he did not require very much."
"How much?"
"You had better ask him."
"Stella," he said, and there was a suggestion of menace in his tone,
"I'm in earnest now. You will soon have to choose between us."
"Shall I?" she replied, bending upon him an arch, bewildering smile.
"Then please don't speak as if I had no choice at all;" and she was
going.
"Wait," he said. "Will you drive with me to-morrow?"
"Yes. Is there anything else your lordship would like?"
He seized her hand, and held it in both his. "This," he said.
"Is that all?" was her laughing reply, as she withdrew it. "I wish you
had more of Mr. Muir's diffidence;" and she vanished before he could
speak again.
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