“Oh, aunt dear, never, never.” This with a wondering, almost angry, look.
“And has Mr Selwood ever made any advances to you, my dear?” said Mrs Glaire, watching curiously the bright blushing face before her.
“Never, aunt dear, never. He has always been so kind and gentlemanly. Never by word or by look, aunt.”
“No, child, he would not,” said Mrs Glaire, slowly; “he is a gentleman whom we can trust and love.”
“Love, aunt?”
“Yes, child, as a very dear friend. But about Richard, Eve. He was very hot and passionate?”
“Yes, aunt. Most cruel to me.”
“And you told him you could not forgive him for his cruel neglect and trifling with—with that poor girl?”
“Yes, aunt,” said Eve, struggling hard to keep up her firmness; “but not quite all you say. I did not tell him I would not forgive him.”
“What then, my child?”