"There's no one to give you an excuse now, and you must come and walk round with me," said a voice, close to her ear.
"Oh, Mr. Morton, how you have startled me!"
"Is there anything the matter, Mary?" said he, looking up into her face.
"Only you have startled me so."
"Has that brought tears into your eyes?"
"Well,—I suppose so," she said trying to smile. "You were so very quiet and I thought you were in London."
"So I was this morning, and now I am here. But something else has made you unhappy."
"No; nothing."
"I wish we could be friends, Mary. I wish I could know your secret. You have a secret."
"No," she said boldly.