"Oh, don't I?" said the Boy. "It's a thing you pile up on the floor to stand upon when you want to fix a new pipe-rack."
Miss Charteris ignored this trying definition of an Encyclopedia.
"The Professor is compiling a wonderful book," she said, with dignity; "and, when it is completed and published, he will be in a position to marry."
"Has he told you so?" inquired the Boy.
"No, Boy. He has never mentioned the subject of marriage to me. But he has told his sister; and she has told me."
"Ha!" said the Boy. "Miss Hann, I suppose. I must say, I distrust Miss Hann."
"What do you know of Miss Ann?" inquired Christobel, astonished.
"Only that she's always a-hegging of 'em on," said the Boy, calmly.
The indignant blood rushed into the fair proud face.
"Boy! You've been gossiping with Martha."