"Certainly not."
"Then you have quarrelled with her, Miss Mackenzie?"
He said nothing now of the perfections of that excellent woman, of whom not long since he had spoken in terms almost too strong for any simple human virtues.
"I'd rather not speak of it. It can't do any good. I don't know why you should ask me whether I intend to go there any more, but as you have, I have answered you."
Then Mr Maguire got up from his chair, and walked about the room, and Miss Mackenzie, watching him closely, could see that he was much moved. But, nevertheless, I think he had made up his mind to walk about the room beforehand. After a while he paused, and, still standing, spoke to her again across the table.
"May I ask you this question? Has Mrs Stumfold said anything to you about me?"
"I'd rather not talk about Mrs Stumfold."
"But, surely, I may ask that. I don't think you are the woman to allow anything said behind a person's back to be received to his detriment."
"Whatever one does hear about people one always hears behind their backs."
"Then she has told you something, and you have believed it?"