“Then you are come to ask pardon for all your crossness, your savagery of this morning?”

“Yes, if you desire it.”

“No, sir; I desire nothing of the kind; it must be spontaneous humility. You must feel you have behaved very ill, and be very, very sorry for it.”

“I have behaved very ill, and am very, very sorry for it,” repeated he, softly, after her.

“And this is said seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“And on honor?”

“On honor!”

“And why is it said—is it because I have asked you to say it?”

“Partly; that is, you have in asking given me courage to say it.”