She broke into a merry laugh.
"I believe you are actually in earnest!" she cried.
He looked quietly down into her face without moving a muscle in response to her change of humor.
"Very clever," he said.
"What ?" she asked, still smiling.
"The attitude, the voice, every thing.

You have known all along that I am in earnest, you have known it for the last six months.

You have seen me often enough when I was--well, not in earnest, to know the difference." Etta rose quickly.

It was some lightning-like woman's instinct that made her do so.

Standing, she was taller than M.de Chauxville.
"Do not let us be tragic," she said coldly.