“Are you sure?” said Miss Stokes.
“Doubt my words?” said Albert. “That’s cruel of you, Miss Stokes.”
Miss Stokes walked between them, close to Joe.
“Have you been to the circus?” she asked him.
“Yes,” he replied, mildly.
“Have you been?” Albert asked her.
“Yes. I didn’t see you,” she replied.
“What!—you say so! Didn’t see us! Didn’t think us worth looking at,” began Albert. “Aren’t I as handsome as the clown, now? And you didn’t as much as glance in our direction? I call it a downright oversight.”
“I never saw you,” reiterated Miss Stokes. “I didn’t know you saw me.”
“That makes it worse,” said Albert.