Your congratulations, both of you, or your hearts' blood! For on my word of honor I did not expect it this year." "A thousand and one!" cried Kendal, trying not to see Elfrida's face.

"But if you did not expect it this year, mademoiselle, you were the only one who had so little knowledge of affairs," he added gaily.
"And now," Nadie went on, as if he had interrupted her, "I am going to drive in the Bois to see what it will be like when the people in the best carriages turn and say, 'That is Mademoiselle Nadie Palicsky, whose picture has just been bought for the Luxembourg.'" She paused and looked for a curious instant at Elfrida, and then slipped quickly behind her chair.

"_Embrasse moi, cherie!_" she said, bringing her face with a bird-like motion close to the other girl's.
Kendal saw an instinctive momentary aversion in the backward start of Elfrida's head, and from the bottom of his heart he was sorry for her.

She pushed her friend away almost violently.
"No!" she said.

"No! I am sorry, but it is too childish.
We never kiss each other, you and I.And listen, Nadie: I am delighted for you, but I have a sick headache--_la migraine_, you understand.