"I do not know."
"Now, do you think," she said, quizzing him, "that it is quite fair to take away the character of an empty house upon such slender grounds? It is like hitting a man when he's down, which I have heard is not considered manly."
"I assure you," replied Bob gravely, "that what I have said has been said with the best intentions."
"No doubt," said my wife composedly, meaning quite the other thing. "Edward, our best plan will be to go and look over the house the first thing in the morning."
"That settles it, Bob," I said, "for the present, at all events. What do you say to coming here tomorrow evening and hearing our report of the house?"
He looked at my wife, as if doubtful whether a second visit would be agreeable to her; but she nodded pleasantly, and said:
"Yes, come, Mr. Millet; perhaps we shall be able to surprise you."
"Thank you," said Bob, and we talked of old times with rather eager readiness, and for the rest of the evening carefully avoided the subject which had so nearly brought him to grief. At ten o'clock he took his departure, and a few minutes afterward Maria and I retired to our bedroom.
"Good-night, dear," she said, in her most amiable tone, as I put out the light.
"Good-night, dear," I replied, and disposed myself for sleep.