"It was once, before my father left the shop."
"The coincidence never struck me before—that's rather odd, for I'm not generally so dull. You don't remember me?"
"I have never met you before."
"Oh! yes—at the Ashford railway station, in the middle of the night—you claimed my protection from a cruel snare that had been laid to entrap you."
"Hush, sir!—yes, sir," said Harriet, with a glance at Ann Packet, who, however, was still busy with the tea-things; "I remember you now; you were very kind to me, and took pains to relieve me from a great anxiety."
"And what has become of——"
"I have never seen him," Harriet interrupted.
"And he hasn't sought you out, and——"
"No, he hasn't. Please say no more about it!" she cried to the inquisitive man; "I have forgotten the story. Mattie, ask him to be quiet."
"How's that possible? How can a—Mattie!" he ejaculated, suddenly struck by that name, dropping his hat and then putting his foot upon it in his excitement; "your name Mattie, and acquainted with a Miss Wesden, who lived once in Suffolk Street! And Miss Gray, too!—my name!—Mattie Gray, why, it must be!"