"I could tell you a tale what might make us sweethearts again," he continued.
"I expect there is hardly any sort of tale that you don't know. But why don't you?"
"I'm going to make you believe in me and trust me."
"Tell that to Mrs. Stanley—I'm sure she's a widow."
"I trust her, and she knows it. I told her about you, and she wanted me to promise not to marry till I'm twenty-five."
"By then, I suppose, she'll have become sick and tired of you," said Nellie, who was rapidly forming Highfield opinions about Mrs. Stanley.
"She doesn't mind who I marry—"
"How perfectly unselfish!"
"So long as 'tis the right sort o' maid."
"I hope you'll find her. Goodnight; I'm going now," said Nellie, standing beside the garden-gate of Windward House. Then she added rather faintly, "I'm sorry you ever came to Highfield."