rry to hear it," I said, gently. "I don't want you to. Oh,
please _don't_!" as he took my hand. "I--I--if you only knew how I _hate_
being touched!"

He leaned back and looked at me. There is something which goes to the head
a little about being in a brougham with nice fur rugs alone with some one
at night. The lights flashing in at the windows, and that faint scent of a
very good cigar. I felt fearfully excited. If it had been Lord Robert, I
believe--well----

He leaned over very close to me. It seemed in another moment he would kiss
me, and what could I do then? I couldn't scream, or jump out in Leicester
Square, could I?

"Why do you call me Evangeline?" I said, by way of putting him off. "I
never said you might."

"Foolish child!--I shall call you what I please. You drive me mad. I don't
know what you were born for. Do you always have this effect on people?"

"What effect?" I said, to gain time; we had got nearly into Long Acre.

"An effect that causes one to lose all discretion. I feel I would give my
soul to hold you in my arms."

I told him I did not think it was at all nice or respectful of him to talk
so--that I found such love revolting.

"You tell me in your sane moments I am most unsuitable to you--you try to
keep away from me--and then when you get close you begin to talk this
stuff! I think it is an insult!" I said, angry and disdainful. "When I
arouse devotion and tenderness in some one, then I shall listen, but to
you and to this--never!"

"Go on," he said. "Even in the dim light you look beautiful when cross."

"I am not cross," I answered. "Only absolutely disgusted."

By that time, thank goodness, we had got into the stream of carriages
close to the opera-house. Mr. Carruthers, however, seemed hardly to notice
this.

"Darling," he said, "I will try not to annoy you; but you are so fearfully
provoking. I--tell you truly, no man would find it easy to keep cool with
you."

"Oh, I don't know what it is, being cool, or not cool," I said, wearily.
"I am tired of every one. Even as tiny a thing as Malcolm Montgomerie gets
odd like this!"

He leaned back and laughed, and then said, angrily: "Impertinence! I will
wring his neck!"

"Thank Heaven we have arrived!" I exclaimed, as we drove under the
portico. I gave a great sigh of relief.

Really, men are very trying and tiresome, and if I shall always have to
put up with these scenes through having red hair, I almost wish it were
mouse-color