She was, however, not in any way angry with her companion.
“Is Aveline a Christian or surname, do you think?” queried Gatliffe.
“I took it to be a Christian name from the fact that the mother called her child to her bedside by it, and the little thing answered to it with the greatest alacrity. It is her Christian name now. She’ll not change it when she marries, I suppose,” added the widow, with a smile.
“I shall never call her by any other. You know, Mrs. Maitland, I am but in humble circumstances, but I have enough to give my dear Aveline all she can desire, and I hope in a short time to be more prosperous.”
“Ah, as to that, riches are not everything, though many persons think they are—I do not, however. By the way, Tom, do you know that Mr. Peace made Aveline an offer?”
“Yes, I’ve heard so; but she wouldn’t listen to him.”
“No, I candidly confess that I had rather a good opinion of him at one time—not as a suitor for Aveline, but I thought him good-natured and kindly disposed.”
“Probably he may be so.”
“But I have very much altered my opinion with regard to him—very much indeed,” returned the widow, with forcible emphasis.
Gatliffe refrained from offering any remark. It was evident, from his manner, that he did not want to dwell further on the subject.