I was run over slightly, a few days ago."

"Run over! Tipsy again? Why, good heavens! what a life you lead, young
man!" and she threatened me with her forefinger, and tried to appear
grave. "Well, let us sit down, then; no, not down there by the door;
you are far too reserved! Come here--you there, and I here--so, that's
it ... ugh, it's such a bore with reticent people! One has to say and
do everything oneself; one gets no help to do anything. Now, for
example, you might just as well put your arm over the back of my chair;
you could easily have thought of that much out of your own head,
couldn't you? But if I say anything like that, you open your eyes as
wide as if you couldn't believe what was being said. Yes, it is really
true; I have noticed it several times; you are doing it now, too; but
you needn't try to persuade me that you are always so modest; it is
only when you don't dare to be otherwise than quiet. You were daring
enough the day you were tipsy--when you followed me straight home and
worried me with your witticisms. 'You are losing your book, madam; you
are quite certainly losing your book, madam!' Ha, ha, ha! it was really
shameless of you."

I sat dejectedly and looked at her; my heart beat violently, my blood
raced quickly through my veins, there was a singular sense of enjoyment
in it!

"Why don't you say something?"

"What a darling you are," I cried. "I am simply sitting here getting
thoroughly fascinated by you--here this very moment thoroughly
fascinated.... There is no help for it.... You are the most
extraordinary creature that ... sometimes your eyes gleam so, that I
never saw their match; they look like flowers ... eh? No, well, no,
perhaps, not like flowers, either, but ... I am so desperately in love
with you, and it is so preposterous ... for, great Scott! there is
naturally not an atom of a chance for me.... What is your name? Now,
you really must tell me what you are called."

"No; what is _your_ name? Gracious, I was nearly forgetting that again!
I thought about it all yesterday, that I meant to ask you--yes, that is
to say, not _all_ yesterday, but--"

"Do you know what I named you? I named you Ylajali. How do you like
that? It has a gliding sound...."

"Ylajali?"

"Yes."

"Is that a foreign language?"

"Humph--no, it isn't that either!"

"Well, it isn't ugly!"

After a long discussion we told one another our names. She seated
herself close to my side on the sofa, and sho