“D-do you think so?” Horatia was surprised. “It is a great trial to me, I can assure you.” She took a breath, and added, with difficulty: “You m-may have n-noticed that I have a—a stammer.”
“Yes, I had noticed,” the Earl answered gently.
“If you f-feel you c-can’t bear it, sir, I shall quite understand,” Horatia said in a small, anxious voice.
“I like it,”said the Earl.
“It is very odd of you,” marvelled Horatia. “But p-perhaps you said that to p-put me at my ease?”
“No,” said the Earl. “I said it because it was true. Will you tell me how old you are?”
“D-does it matter?” Horatia inquired forebodingly.
“Yes, I think it does,” said his lordship.
“I was afraid it m-might,” she said. “I am t-turned seventeen.”
“Turned seventeen!” repeated his lordship. “My dear, I couldn’t do it.”