"I had a shrewd suspicion; but you don't suppose I foresaw what actually did happen?"
"I dare say that yours was not the prophetic vision quite to that extent. I wonder why he didn't like you?"
"I'm nearly sure that with him it was a case of Dr. Fell--the reason why he couldn't tell. When you came on the scene he hated me because you didn't."
"Didn't you do anything to ruffle him--to rub him the wrong way?"
"Never--consciously. I've a notion--it's only a notion, but my notions are apt to be pretty near the mark--that he had some idea of marrying you to Mr. Stephen Wilkes."
"Rodney! Good gracious! What a notion!"
"As I remarked, it's only a notion; but I can put two and two together, and something in the gentleman's manner this morning put the crown on my suspicions."
"I'd rather have died."
"Or married me? Well--do! How soon could you make it convenient?"
"How soon would you like it to be?"