"He'll think that I have called for him. No, I'm going home alone to-night."
"Why, what will he say?"
"Tell him that I was in a hurry, going home by omnibus to save time, and appease father's nervousness about me. I will not have any danglers in my train to-night. I'm in a bad temper—nervous, irritable and excitable—I shall only offend him."
"Then something has——"
"Good night, Mattie—oh! I had nearly forgotten to ask you to dine with us on Sunday; you'll be sure to come early?"
"Who told you to say that?"
"Why, my father, to be sure."
"I'm glad of it—I'm glad he thinks better of me," Mattie cried; "oh! Miss Harriet, you don't know how miserable I have been in my heart, lest he—lest he has thought differently of me lately!"
"More fancies! I have always said that they were fancies, Mattie."
"Ah! I guess pretty near to the truth sometimes."