"Why, good gracious, what could I do! Charles Bentinck told me, upon his honour, he meant nothing wrong."
"This man is really too good!" thought I, and then I affected the deepest commiseration of his mishap.
"Why did she run away from you?" said I. "Why not, at least, have carried on the thing quietly?"
"That's what I say," said Abdy.
"Because," I continued, "had she remained with you sir, you would have always looked forward with hope to that period when age and ugliness should destroy all her power of making conquests."
"Oh," said Abdy, clasping his hands, "if any real friend like you had heartened me up in this way at the time, I could have induced her to have returned to me! But then, Miss Wilson, they all said I should be laughed at and frightened me to death. It was very silly to be sure of me to mind them; for it is much better to be laughed at, than to be so dull and miserable as I am now."
"Shall I make you a cup of tea, Sir William?"
"Oh! Miss, you are so good! tea is very refreshing when one is in trouble."
I hastened to my bell, to conceal the strong inclination I felt to laugh in his face, and ordered tea.
"Green tea is the best, is it not, Miss?" said Sir William.