"Indeed, there was no necessity."
"Does that mean you prefer to walk alone?"
"I am not much given to incivility, you know; I did not wish to detain you from your friends."
"Oh, they will take care of each other," he replied. "I wonder you don't say something about him—you are less susceptible than most young ladies. Hinchley is a great favorite."
"Please do not slander my sex, Mr. Laurence, or we shall quarrel at once."
"And you will conquer me, as you always do at chess! But at all events, you can not be offended at my saying that you are different from youthful females in general; almost any other would have asked twenty questions in a breath about the stranger."
"But Mr. Hinchley is hardly a stranger," she replied.
"Oh, that is true; but I believe you have never met him before."
"No; but I have heard Miss Waring talk so much of her favorite cousin, and Mr. Waring is always sounding his praises."