"
He wondered at the concentrated feeling she expressed. What could the
price be? And what was her history?"
"So it is over, our little breeze," she said gently, after a
pause. "And you will tease me no more, Paul?"
"I would never tease you!" he exclaimed tenderly. And, if he had
dared, he would have taken her hand.
"You English are so wonderful! Full of your prejudices," she said in a
contemplative way. "Bulldog tenacity of purpose, whether you are
right or wrong. Things are a custom, and they must be done, or it is
not 'playing the game,'" and she imitated a set English voice, her
beautiful mouth pursed up, until Paul had to use violent restraint
with himself to keep from kissing it. "A wonderful people--mostly
gentlemen and generally honest, but of a common sense that is
disastrous to sentiment or romance. If you were not so polished, and
lazy and strong--and beautiful to look at, one would not consider you
much beyond the German."
"Not consider us beyond a beastly German!" exclaimed Paul
indignantly.
And the lady laughed like a child.
"Oh! you darling Paul!" she said. "You dear, insular, arrogant
Englishman! You have no equal in the world!"
Paul was offended.
"If you had said an Austrian now--but a German--" he growled sulkily.
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