Lady Fermanagh regarded her in amazement for a few moments, then
dissolved into laughter.
"Oh, you modern girls!" she exclaimed. "You think you know such a lot
and are so advanced, yet you are as easily scared or fooled as any
country maiden in Victorian times."
"My dear aunt, Don Carlos de Ruiz can neither scare nor fool me,"
protested Myra; "but surely I have a right to object to his attempting
to make love to me when he knows I am engaged to Tony Standish."
"Remember he is a Spaniard, my dear," said her aunt, with a tolerant
smile. "The greatest compliment a Latin can pay a woman is to make
love to her--and the majority make love merely by way of being
complimentary. Don Carlos de Ruiz probably makes love to every woman
he meets, which very likely explains why he is so popular. Why, my
dear, he almost made love to me!"
"But he didn't tell you he wanted to marry you, did he, Aunt Clarissa,
swear he would win you by hook or by crook, and vow that Old Nick
himself would not prevent him from making you his own?" inquired Myra,
beginning to smile again.
Lady Fermanagh laughed heartily.
"No, my dear, he certainly did not go as far as that," she answered.
"You don't mean to tell me he actually said something to that effect to
you?"
"Yes, both last night at the dance, and again a few minutes ago--and he
said it as if he meant it. I have half a mind to ask Tony to tell the
arrogantly conceited Spaniard not to pester me with his attentions
again."
"My dear child, don't make yourself ridiculous by doing anything so
foolish. You need not take Don Carlos too seriously. He is very much
a man of the world, probably something of a Don Juan, and likely makes
love as a pastime. I met many of his type when your Uncle was in the
Diplomatic Service--wealthy bachelors who made love to almost every
pretty woman they met, provided always, however, that the woman was
married or engaged, and there was no danger of being caught in the
matrimonial net. I should say, my dear, judging from my experience,
that Don Carlos probably would only have paid you compliments instead
of making love to you, if he had not known you were engaged."
"That sort of philanderer deserves to be kicked or horsewhipped, Aunt
Clarissa, for making a mockery of love."