"Indeed! Then Mr. Dodd has not apprised you—he has mentioned nothing—"
"No, ma'am, Mr. Dodd has mentioned nothing;" and this I said with a significance, Molly, that even stone would have shrunk under.
"Men are too absurd," said she, laughing; "they recollect nothing."
"They do forget themselves at times, ma'am," said I, with a look that must have shot through her.
She was so confused, Molly, that she had to pretend to be looking for something in her bag, and held down her head for several seconds.
"Where can I have laid that letter?" said she. "I am so very careless about letters; fortunately for me I have no secrets, is it not?"
This was too barefaced, Molly, so I only said "Humph!"
"I must have left it on my table," said she, still searching, "or perhaps dropped it as I came along."
"Maybe in the conservatory, ma'am," said I, with a piercing glance.
"I never go there," said she, calmly. "One is sure to catch cold in it, with all the draughts."