‘Gracious goodness, no!  What would you say that for?’

‘I didn’t know.  I must say something.’

‘Tell him you’re nothing to him.’

’But aunt will be letting on about my being out late o’nights; I know she will.  And who am I with?  He’ll be asking that.’

‘Your aunt does not know?’

’No;—­I’ve told nobody yet.  But it won’t do to go on like that, you know,—­will it?  You don’t want it to go on always like that;—­do you?’

‘It’s very jolly, I think.’

’It ain’t jolly for me.  Of course, Felix, I like to be with you. ...