"I was there, and you did not know me: so I won."
"But what became of you?"
"I went out to get a breath of air, and that Peter Mixon got thrown out of his carriage at my very feet. Of course I didn't feel like going back after that."
"There are some things very mysterious about that night," Toxteth said. "I'm sure I don't know half that went on in my own house."
"Who ever did?" she retorted. "I'm sure you are better off. Will you come in?"
They had reached the piazza by this time, and Patty laid her hand upon the door-handle.
"I think not," he answered. "They will wait tea for me at home. But I want to ask you something."
"It is dangerous to ask things in this world," she said, "there is always so much uncertainty what the answer will be."
"But I am in uncertainty now."
"That can't be pleasant," replied she; "but the frying-pan is better than the fire. It cannot be any thing that concerns yourself, however, or you couldn't hesitate about it."