“Oh—I think that—that I should like to know what you think about it.”
“I think he will ask her.”
“And that she will accept him?”
She did not know how much thought he had been giving to this question during some hours—how eagerly he was waiting her reply.
“No.” she said; “I believe that she will not accept him, because she means to accept you—if you give her a chance.”
The start that he gave was very well simulated. Scarcely so admirable from a standpoint of art was the opening of his eyes accompanied by a little exclamation of astonishment.
“Why are you surprised?” she said, as if she was surprised at his surprise—so subtly can a clever young woman flatter the cleverest of men.
He shook his head.
“I am surprised because I have just heard the most surprising sentence that ever came upon my ears. That is saying a good deal—yes, considering how much we have talked together.”
“Why should it be surprising?” she said. “Did you not call upon her in town?”