"My father has very much to attend to just now, and I'm compelled to assist him, as you are well aware.

He's so utterly helpless." "Oh, but you might spare me just half-an-hour sometimes," he said in a slight tone of reproach.
"I do.

Why, we surely see each other very often!" "Not often enough for me, Gabrielle," he declared, halting in the darkness and raising her soft little hand to his eager lips.

"You know well enough how fondly I love you, how--" "I know," she said in a sad, blank tone.

Her own heart beat fast at his passionate words.
"Then why do you treat me like this ?" he asked.