"Yes."
"The world has altered since I was a girl, that's all." Then with deep sarcasm—"Does your uncle know that you call her Fanny?"
"Of course not; I've never told him."
Miss Hancock stared at him stonily, then she spoke. "Are you in love with her too?" she asked.
"What do you mean by 'too'?"
"Frank Leavesley, don't shuffle and prevaricate. Are you in love with her?"
"Of course I am; every one who meets her must love her. I believe old Verneede is in love with her. Love with her! I'd lay my life down for her, but it's hopeless—hopeless——"
"I trust so indeed," replied Miss Hancock.
For a minute he thought his aunt must be a little bit mad: this was more than her ordinary contrariness; then he went back to his original question.