"She cannot have heard me," I replied, indignantly; "I don't know why you will not believe me as well as her."
Cornelius gave me a severe look.
"You were not accused," he said, "and need not have justified yourself in that tone."
Kate gave us a quick glance, and said abruptly—
"I am astonished at Deborah; you might have wanted to go out."
"I did go out," replied Cornelius, "thinking she was in; but I only stayed out a few minutes."
"Did Daisy remain alone?"
"I suppose so, for as I went out by the back door, Miriam left by the front; but the neighbourhood is safe, and Daisy is surely not so silly as to be afraid."
"She looks very pale," observed Kate: "what have you been doing to her?"
"What has she been doing to me?" he coldly answered.