"Good! In that case we can let bygones be bygones and be friends,"
exclaimed Myra, and impulsively held out her hand.
Don Carlos raised her fingers to his lips and kissed them, and the
boyish smile came back to his face.
"Let me warn you, however, my dear Myra, that although I speak no word
of love, my heart and my eyes will be making love to you all the time,
and every fibre of my being will be loving you and longing for you," he
said. "I shall be planning new ways of overcoming your resistance and
inducing you to confess that you love me. Always my heart will be
calling and calling to you."
"As long as you do not badger me with your attentions, as you have been
doing, it will not concern me what is happening to your heart,"
remarked Myra, forcing a laugh. "You can even pretend to be
heartbroken, if you think the role will suit you."
"No, the role of broken-hearted, rejected suitor would not please me,"
laughed Don Carlos. "I shall be the strong, silent man, biding his
time, confident of eventually gaining his heart's desire. Meanwhile I
am congratulating myself on having made it possible to fulfil my boast
that I should be your fellow-guest in Scotland for the shooting."
"You have my leave to congratulate yourself as much as you like, Don
Carlos, and to hand yourself as many bouquets as you like," said Myra
smilingly, "but I shall hold you to your promise not to attempt to make
love to me."
"I promise you, Myra, I shall be as silent as a Trappist monk, so far
as talking love to you is concerned," Don Carlos assured her. "My
promise, however, only holds good for the duration of our stay in the
Highlands. After that----"
"Tony and I are going to be married in the Spring," interrupted Myra.
"I think not," said Don Carlos with great earnestness. "You will be
mine, dear heart, before the Spring flowers have finished blooming."
"Oh, please don't start being absurd again, just after promising to be
sensible!" protested Myra.
"You will be mine, dear heart, before the Spring flowers have finished
blooming," repeated Don Carlos. "Sweet lady, you may take that as
another promise made in all seriousness. I love you, and I have
sworn----"
"Let's change the subject, Don Carlos," interrupted Myra again.
"Oblige me by making your promise not to make love to me date from this
minute."