Yes, Sir Norman, I do love you!" Every man hearing that for the first time from a pair of loved lips is privileged to go mad for a brief season, and to go through certain manoeuvers much more delectable to the enjoyers than to society at large.

For fully ten minutes after Leoline's last speech, there was profound silence.

But actions sometimes speak louder than words; and Leoline was perfectly convinced that her declaration had not fallen on insensible ears.

At the end of that period, the space between them on the couch had so greatly diminished, that the ghost of a zephyr would have been crushed to death trying to get between them; and Sir Norman's face was fairly radiant.

Leoline herself looked rather beaming; and she suddenly, and without provocation, burst into a merry little peal of laughter.
"Well, for two people who were perfect strangers to each other half an hour ago, I think we have gone on remarkably well.