"You told me, just before my cousin came here, that if I asked any question you would answer me."
"And I am to understand that you are asking such a question now?"
"Yes;—if it will not offend you."
"But what if it will offend me,—offend me greatly? Who likes to be inquired into?"
"But you courted such inquiry from me."
"No, Clara, I did not do that. I'll tell you what I did. I gave you to understand that if it was needful that you should hear about me and my antecedents,—certain matters as to which Mr. Belton had been inquiring into in a manner that I thought to be most unjustifiable,—I would tell you that story."
"And do so without being angry with me for asking."
"I meant, of course, that I would not make it a ground for quarrelling with you. If I wished to tell you I could do so without any inquiry."
"I have sometimes thought that you did wish to tell me."
"Sometimes I have,—almost."