resolved not to call or even see her more,
since he had become such a shadow in her path. Still, as it was always
best to do nothing hastily, he had on second thoughts decided to ask her
to grant him a last special favour, and see him again just once, for a
few minutes only that afternoon, in which he might at least say Farewell.
To avoid all possibility of compromising her in anybody's eyes, he would
call at half-past six, when other callers were likely to be gone, knowing
that from the peculiar constitution of the household the hour would not
interfere with her arrangements. There being no time for an answer, he
would assume that she would see him, and keep the engagement; the request
being one which could not rationally be objected to.

'There--read it!' said Ethelberta, with glad displeasure. 'Did you ever
hear such audacity? Fixing a time so soon that I cannot reply, and thus
making capital out of a pretended necessity, when it is really an
arbitrary arrangement of his own. That's real rebellion--forcing himself
into my house when I said strictly he was not to come; and then, that it
cannot rationally be objected to--I don't like his "rationally."'

'Where there's much love there's little ceremony, didn't you say just
now?' observed innocent Picotee.

'And where there's little love, no ceremony at all. These manners of his
are dreadful, and I believe he will never improve.'

'It makes you care not a bit about him, does it not, Berta?' said Picotee
hopefully.

'I don't answer for that,' said Ethelberta. 'I feel, as many others do,
that a want of ceremony which is produced by abstraction of mind is no
defect in a poet or musician, fatal as it may be to an ordinary man.'

'Mighty me! You soon forgive him.'

'Picotee, don't you be so quick to speak. Before I have finished, how do
you know what I am going to say? I'll never tell you anything again, if
you take me up so. Of course I am going to punish him at once, and make
him remember that I am a lady, even if I do like him a little.'

'How do you mean to punish him?' said Picotee, with interest.

'By writing and telling him that on no account is he to come.'

'But there is not time for a letter--'

'That doesn't matter. It will show him that I did not mean him to come.'

At hearing the very merciful nature of the punishment, Picotee sighed
without replying; and Ethelberta despatched her note. The hour of
appointment drew near, and Ethelberta sho