"What do you mean?"
I did not answer.
"What do you mean?" he said, his voice rising.
"Well then!" I exclaimed a little desperately, "I mean that I have made an appointment with William, and that I want your permission to keep it."
Cornelius dropped my hand, and looked petrified.
"You have made an appointment with that young man!" he said at length.
"Yes, Cornelius."
"And you come and tell it to me."
"Oh, Cornelius, would you have me keep it a secret?"
"But to tell it to me."