Your own, I suppose ?" "Yes," I said.

I did not feel disposed to be more communicative.
"What do you call it ?" asked Min, carelessly.
"`Per Contra,'" I answered.

"Don't you think it a suitable title ?" "Yes, _I understand_" she said.

"Thank you, _Mr Lorton_!" She spoke, with marked emphasis.
A little time afterwards, when I was sitting moodily in a corner, with a book before me which I was supposed to be looking at, but whose bare title escapes my recollection, Min came to my side; and, she began overhauling some volumes of music that were piled up in a heap on the floor.
"Mr Lorton," she said, hesitatingly.
That "Mr Lorton" set my teeth on edge.
I made no reply.
"Frank!" "Yes," I said, testily.
I felt very angry with her for her attentions to Horner and Mawley, and, as I thought, neglect of me; so, I wished to let her know it.
"Frank," she repeated, "didn't you mean that song at me ?" "Yes, I did," I replied, very grumpily.
"Foolish fellow!" she said; "what a very bad opinion you must have of me, although I did not know my eyes were blue before! You said the other night they were grey," and she smiled bewitchingly.

But, I wouldn't be coaxed into good humour.
"Ce m'est egal," I answered coldly, "whatever they are." "You are very cross!" she said pettishly; "I will go and talk to Mr Mawley, until you get into a better mood, sir, and are more amiable." "I'm sure," said I, loftily, "that I would not be the means of depriving you of his valuable and entertaining society." Min laughed provokingly.