"Let me try!"
Carmen struck a match, jumped briskly on the chair, lit the gas, jumped
lightly down again, and said: "You do like to sit in the dark,--eh? So
am I--sometimes--alone."
"Miss De Haro," said Thatcher, with sudden, honest earnestness,
advancing with outstretched hands, "believe me I am sincerely delighted,
overjoyed, again to meet--"
She had, however, quickly retreated as he approached, ensconcing herself
behind the high back of a large antique chair, on the cushion of which
she knelt. I regret to add also that she slapped his outstretched
fingers a little sharply with her inevitable black fan as he still
advanced.
"We are not in California. It is Washington. It is after midnight. I am
a poor girl, and I have to lose--what you call--'a character.' You shall
sit over there,"--she pointed to the sofa,--"and I shall sit here;" she
rested her boyish head on the top of the chair; "and we shall talk, for
I have to speak to you, Don Royal."
Thatcher took the seat indicated, contritely, humbly, submissively.
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