“How could I, when I never had an husband?” answered Lysken, darning away tranquilly.
“But didst thou never come across any that—that thou shouldst fain—”
“Shouldst fain—what?” said Lysken, as Blanche paused.
“Shouldst have liked to wed,” said Blanche, plunging into the matter.
“Gramercy, nay!” replied Lysken, turning the stocking to look at the other side. “And I should have thought shame if I had.”
Blanche felt this speech a reflection on herself.
“Lysken!” she cried pettishly.
Lysken put down the stocking, and looked at Blanche.
“What meanest thou?” she inquired, in a plain matter-of-fact style which was extremely aggravating to that young lady.
“Oh, ’tis to no good to tell thee,” returned Blanche loftily. “Thou wist nought at all thereabout.”