"Why did you pretend to care for me when you are so wrapped up in another, that, from the moment he comes up, you have neither speech nor look for me?"
"I have left him to come and bid you good night, and by way of thanks, you accuse me of deceiving you. How, and about what?"
"What do you call speaking of him as if he were your grandfather, when I don't believe he is a bit older than I am?"
"He is twenty-seven. But what about his age?"
"I don't care about his age, nor about his looks either," replied
William, with a scornful laugh. "You may think him handsome if you like—
I do not."
I felt offended, and replied, shortly:
"I never told you Cornelius was old. It was you chose to compare an elegant young man, of twenty-seven, to a coarse sea-captain of fifty, not I. I might add that your remarks are very childish, but I do not want to speak unkindly. Good night, William. I trust that when I come here to- morrow morning, I shall find you in a better temper."
I turned away; he followed me.
"Will you really come?" he asked, submissively.
I replied,