“It seems very hard. Who do you suspect is the Indian General alluded to?”
“Tell me, first of all,—does he exist?” “And this, too, you will not reply to, nor notice?” “Not, certainly, through such a channel as it reaches me. If the slanderer will stand forth and avow himself, I may know how to deal with him. But what has led us into this digression? I am sure it is as little to your taste as to mine. I have failed in my mission, and if I were able to justify every act of my life, what would it avail me? You have pronounced against me; at least, you will not take my brief.”
“What if I were retained by the other side?” said she, smiling.
“I never suspected that there was another side,” said he, with an air of extreme indifference. “Who is my formidable rival?”
“I might have told you if I saw you were really anxious on the subject.”
“It would be but hypocrisy in me to pretend it. If, for example, Major McCormick—”
“Oh, that is too bad!” cried Polly, interrupting. “This would mean an impertinence to Miss Barrington.”
“How pleasant we must have been! Almost five o'clock, and I scarcely thought it could be three!” said he, with an affected languor.
“'Time's foot is not heard when he treads upon flowers,'” said she, smiling.
“Where shall I find your father, Miss Dill? I want to tell him what a charming creature his daughter is, and how wretched I feel at not being able to win her favor.”