"Oh, but you went too far!"
"Ah, if we had only gone no farther!"
"You went farther? How could you?"
"Grandma did. You know, dear, how suddenly Captain Kincaid had to leave for Mobile--by night?"
"Yes," murmured Anna, with great emphasis in her private mind.
"Well, jus' at the las' he gave Charlie a small bag of gold, hundreds of dollars, for--for--me to keep for him till his return. Anna! I was offended."
"Oh, but surely he meant no--"
"Ah, my dear, did I ever give him the very least right to pick me out in that manner? No. Except in that one pretty way he has with all of us--and which you know so well--"
An uncourageous faint smile seemed the safest response.
"Yes," said Flora, "you know it. And I had never allowed myself--"