"Yes or no," replied Naomi, promptly.
"No, then. I can't—I can't——"
"Then don't. Now not another word! No, there's no offence on either side, unless it's I that have offended you. It was great cheek of me, after all. Yes, it was! Well, then, if it wasn't, will you have the goodness to lend me your ears on an entirely different matter?"
"Very well; with all my heart; yet if only I could ever thank you——"
"If only you would be quiet and listen to me! How are the bruises behaving? That's all I want to hear now."
"The bruises? Oh, they're all right; I'd quite forgotten I had any."
"You can lean back without hurting?"
"Rather! If I put my weight on the left side it doesn't hurt a bit."
"Think you could stand seven miles in a buggy to-morrow morning?"
"Couldn't I!"