"None, my child."
"But you are going to tell me that I have sinned against the letter of the law of propriety, or something of that kind. This is the way you always begin."
"Then this time is an exception to all other times, for I haven't a word of fault to find with you."
"I am so glad! I was trying to think what wicked thing I had been doing."
"Nothing, child. Don John seemed to be supremely happy this afternoon."
"I dare say he was; but the firm of Ramsay & Son had a successful launch, and Don John had compliments enough to turn the head of any one with a particle of vanity in his composition."
"No doubt of it; and I suppose you were not behind the others in adding fuel to the flame."
"What flame, father?"
"On the contrary, I don't think I uttered a single compliment to him."