"'Never mind.' said Martha, 'one often knows least one's self when one is not well.'
"'I should think one ought to know that best one's self,' he replied.
"'What if one does not think it worth while to take any notice of it?' This time she spoke without bitterness, modestly and quietly as she always spoke, and yet every word cut me to the quick.
"('Oh, Martha, why did you repulse me?' a voice within me cried.)
"And thereupon she broke into a short laugh, and asked how things were at home, and whether uncle and aunt were well.
"'First I should like to know how my uncle and my aunt are,' he said, and looked into the four corners of the room.
"I was so glad to see the strained mood giving way, that I burst into a loud laugh at his comical search.
"Both looked at me in astonishment as if they only just remembered my presence.
"'And what do you say to our child?' asked Martha, taking my hand in motherly fashion, 'does she please you?'
"'Better now already,' he said, scrutinising me, 'before, she was too stiff for me.'