“Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open.”
“Well, what did you do it for?”
“I’m very fond of her;” the words came forth with great apparent reluctance.
“Fond of her!” said Aunt Mary with great contempt.
Jack lifted his eyes quickly at the tone of her comment.
“Fond of her! Do you think a girl like that is the kind to be fond of! Why ain’t you in love with her?”
The young man felt his brains suddenly swimming. This surpassed his maddest hopes.
“Shall I say that I am in love with her?” he cried into the ear-trumpet.