And she may refuse, too; there is no making sure of a woman; and then what will Miriam say ?" He paused with a gasp.

There was a quick patter of light feet down the stairs, the last two cleared with a jump, a swish of silken skirts, a little gush of perfume, and then, bright as a flash of light, blue-eyed Mollie stood before him.

She held his card in her fingers, and all the yellow hair fell over her plump shoulders, like amber sunshine over snow.
"Mr.Carl Walraven ?" Miss Dane said, with a smile and a graceful little bow.
Mr.Carl Walraven rose up and returned that pretty courtesy with a salute stiff and constrained.
"Yes, Miss Dane." "Pray resume your seat, Mr.Walraven," with an airy wave of a little white hand.

"To what do I owe this visit ?" She fluttered into a big black arm-chair as she spoke, folded the little white hands, and glanced across with brightly expectant eyes.
"You must think this call, from an utter stranger, rather singular, Miss Dane," Mr.Walraven began, considerably at a loss.
Miss Dane laughed.
"Oh, dear, no! not at all--the sort of thing I am used to, I assure you! May I ask its purport ?" "Miss Dane, you must pardon me," said Mr.Walraven, plunging desperately head first into his mission, "but I saw you play last night, and I have--yes, I have taken a violent fancy to you." Miss Mollie Dane never flinched.

The wicked sparkle in the dancing eyes grew a trifle wickeder, perhaps, but that was all.
"Yes," she said, composedly; "go on." "You take it very coolly," remarked the gentleman, rather taken aback himself.