Alice interrupted him with
a hearty burst of laughter.
"A very pretty twist you give to my words, I must declare," she
said; "but not new by any means. Little Adrienne Bourcier could
tell you that. She says that you have vowed to her over and over
that you dream about her, and wish for her, and wait for her,
precisely as you have just said to me,"
Rene's brown face flushed to the temples, partly with anger,
partly with the shock of mingled surprise and fear. He was guilty,
and the guilt showed in his eyes and paralyzed his tongue, so that
he sat there before Alice with his under jaw sagging ludicrously.
"Don't you rather think, Monsieur Rene de Ronville," she presently
added in a calmly advisory tone, "that you had better quit trying
to say such foolish things to me, and just be my very good friend?
If you don't, I do, which comes to the same thing. What's more, I
won't be your partenaire at the dance unless you promise me on
your word of honor that you will dance two dances with Adrienne to
every one that you have with me. Do you promise?"
He dared not oppose her outwardly, although in his heart
resistance amounted to furious revolt and riot.
"I promise anything you ask me to," he said resignedly, almost
sullenly; "anything for you."
"Well, I ask nothing whatever on my own account," Alice quickly
replied; "but I do tell you firmly that you shall not maltreat
little Adrienne Bourcier and remain a friend of mine.
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