The author of "The Alien," "A Moral Catastrophe," "Her Disciple," and a number of other volumes which cause envy and heart-burnings among publishers, in the course of his somewhat short-sighted progress across the room, paused with a confused effort to remember who this pretty girl might be who wanted to speak to him.
Elfrida said, "Pardon me!" and Mr.Jasper instantly perceived that there could be no question of that, with her face.

She was holding out her hand, and he took it with absolute mystification.

Elfrida had turned very pale, and a dozen people were listening.

"Give me the right to say I have done this!" she said, looking at him with shy bravery in her beautiful eyes.

She half sank on one knee and lifted the hand that wrote "A Moral Catastrophe" to her lips.
Mr.Jasper repossessed himself of it rather too hastily for dignity, and inwardly he expressed his, feelings by a puzzled oath.