"Well, well," he said, "this looks like old times. Why, Calthy, I don't believe you have sold a thing since I was here last."
"If you had any eyes in your head," said Miss Calthea, severely, "you would see that I have sold a great deal. Nearly everything, in fact."
"That proves my point," said Lanigan; "for nearly everything was gone when I left."
"And some of the things that are gone," said she, "you still owe me for."
"Well put, Calthy," said Lanigan, laughing; "and after that, let's drop the business. What's new and what's stale in Lethbury?"
"You are about the newest as well as the stalest thing here," said she.
Lanigan whistled. "Calthy," said he, "would you mind my smoking a cigar here! There will be no customers coming in."
"You know very well you cannot smoke here," she said; "what is the matter with you? Has that pincushion-faced child's nurse driven you from the inn?"
A pang went through Lanigan. Was Calthea jealous of Miss Mayberry on his account? The thought frightened him. If he could have said anything which would have convinced Calthea that he was on the point of marrying Miss Mayberry, and that therefore she might as well consider everything at an end between herself and him, he would have said it. But he merely replied:
"She is a nice girl, and very much given to learning."