"I do not complain, Cornelius, she is very kind."

"And she gives you a very good character, and I have assured her she told me nothing new."

He had laid his hand on my shoulder, and he looked into my face with all the kindness of old times. I replied in a low tone—

"It was very kind of you, Cornelius, to say so."

"I only said what I thought; you need not thank me for it."

He spoke impatiently; I did not reply, and there was another long pause.

"Are you tired?" at length asked Cornelius, who was leading me through streets and bye places of which I knew nothing.

"A little."

"And there is not even a shop where I could make you rest; why did not you say so sooner?"

"I did not like to delay you."