‘You told me he had been here but a minute.’

’It was but very little more.  If you take me at my word in that way, of course you can make me out to be wrong, mamma.  It was almost no time, and yet he said it.’

‘He had come prepared to say it.’

‘How could he,—­expecting to find you?’

‘Psha!  He expected nothing of the kind.’

’I think you do him wrong, mamma.  I am sure you are doing me wrong.  I think his coming was an accident, and that what he said was—­an accident.’

‘An accident!’

’It was not intended,—­not then, mamma.  I have known it ever so long;—­ and so have you. ...