It was not because I disliked society, you must know; but Prudence, with all her kindness and goodness--and I believe she truly loves me--has been nothing more or less all my life than my jailer." She paused to clasp a belt of silver brocade, fastened by a pearl buckle, close around her little waist, and Sir Norman fixed his eyes upon her beautiful face, with a powerful glance.
"Knew no one--that is strange, Leoline! Not even the Count L'Estrange ?" "Ah! you know him ?" she cried eagerly, lifting her eyes with a bright look; "do--do tell me who he is ?" "Upon my honor, my dear," said Sir Norman, considerably taken aback, "it strikes me you are the person to answer that question.

If I don't greatly mistake, somebody told me you were going to marry him." "Oh, so I was," said Leoline, with the utmost simplicity.

"But I don't know him, for all that; and more than that, Sir Norman, I do not believe his name is Count L'Estrange, any more than mine is!" "Precisely my opinion; but why, in the name of--no, I'll not swear; but why were you going to marry him, Leoline ?" Leoline half pouted, and shrugged her pretty pink satin shoulders.
"Because I couldn't help it--that's why.

He coaxed, and coaxed; and I said no, and no, and no, until I got tired of it.

Prudence, too, was as bad as he was, until between them I got about distracted, and at last consented to marry him to get rid of him." "My poor, persecuted little darling! Oh," cried Sir Norman, with a burst of enthusiasm, "how I should admire to have Count L'Estrange here for about ten minutes, just now! I would spoil his next wooing for him, or I am mistaken!" "No, no!" said Leoline, looking rather alarmed; "you must not fight, you know.