"How long was he here?"
"Two minutes before you came in. Why do you cross-question me like this? I could not help his coming. I did not desire that he might be shown up."
"You did not know that he was to come?"
"Mamma, if I am to be suspected, all is over between us."
"What do you mean by that?"
"If you can think that I would deceive you, you will think so always. If you will not trust me, how am I to live with you as though you did? I knew nothing of his coming."
"Tell me this, Hetta; are you engaged to marry him?"
"No;—I am not."
"Has he asked you to marry him?"
Hetta paused a moment, considering, before she answered this question. "I do not think he ever has."