"But, after all," she pursued, "what business have you to take me to task like this? It is not a professional matter."
"I don't know that," I answered. This was another inspiration, and it disconcerted her, for she changed countenance.
"You have a nice opinion of me!" she exclaimed.
"I have the highest opinion of you," I answered, "and nobody knows that better than yourself. But what am I to think when I find you acting without any discretion whatever?"
"Think that I am at the mercy of every wayward impulse."
"But I know that you are not," I replied; "and I am unhappy about you. Will you trust me? Will you explain? Will you let me help you if I can? I believe there is some trouble at the bottom of this business. Do tell me all about it?"
"Well, I will explain," she said, still laughing. "I was driving past, and seeing you there, I thought I would horrify you, so I stopped the carriage—"
"You got out of an omnibus!" I exclaimed.
"Well, that was my carriage for the time being," she answered, in no way disconcerted. "You do not expect me to own that I was in an omnibus, do you?"
"I wish you would be serious for a moment," I remonstrated. "I wish you would tell me the truth."