"I should think you couldn't be so silly as that," she said with decision.
He smiled a little.

"Thank you, _miladi_.

Then wasn't it--almost equally silly--your word, not mine!--of you to be afraid of me last night ?" She felt the thrust in a moment, and went white, conscious of the weak sick feeling that so often came over her at the sound of her mother's step when she was in disgrace.
He saw her distress, but he allowed several moments to elapse before he came to the rescue; Then lightly, "Pray don't let the matter disturb you!" he said.

"Only--for your peace of mind--let me tell you that you really have nothing to fear.

Out here we live in fairyland, and no one is in earnest.