The girl was without wraps, her dress of some light, fleecy material
fitting her slender figure exquisitely, her head uncovered; within her
eyes Brant imagined he could detect the glint of tears. She spoke
first, her voice faltering slightly.
"Will you kindly permit me to pass?"
He stepped instantly to one side, bowing as he did so.
"I beg your pardon for such seeming rudeness," he said, gravely. "I
have been seeking you all the evening, yet this unexpected meeting
caught me quite unawares."
"You have been seeking me? That is strange. For what reason, pray?"
"To achieve what you were once kind enough to suggest as possible--the
formality of an introduction. It would seem, however, that fate makes
our meetings informal."
"That is your fault, not mine."
"I gladly assume all responsibility, if you will only waive the
formality and accept my friendship."
Her face seemed to lighten, while her lips twitched as if suppressing a
smile. "You are very forgetful. Did I not tell you that we
Presbyterians are never guilty of such indiscretions?"
"I believe you did, but I doubt your complete surrender to the creed."
"Doubt! Only our second time of meeting, and you already venture to
doubt! This can scarcely be construed into a compliment, I fear."
"Yet to my mind it may prove the very highest type of compliment," he
returned, reassured by her manner. "For a certain degree of
independence in both thought and action is highly commendable. Indeed,
I am going to be bold enough to add that it was these very attributes
that awakened my interest in you."
"Oh, indeed; you cause me to blush already. My frankness, I fear, bids
fair to cost me all my friends, and I may even go beyond your pardon,
if the perverse spirit of my nature so move me."
"The risk of such a catastrophe is mine, and I would gladly dare that
much to get away from conventional commonplace. One advantage of such
meetings as ours is an immediate insight into each other's deeper
nature. For one I shall sincerely rejoice if you will permit the good
fortune of our chance meeting to be alone sponsor for our future
friendship. Will you not say yes?"
She looked at him with greater earnestness, her young face sobered by
the words spoken. Whatever else she may have seen revealed there, the
countenance bending slightly toward her was a serious, manly one,
inspiring respect, awakening confidence.
"And I do agree," she said, extending her hand in a girlish impulse.
"It will, at least, be a new experience and therefore worth the trial.
I will even endeavor to restrain my rebellious spirit, so that you will
not be unduly shocked."