He began as he spoke to put away some little articles, and got out paper to wrap up others.
'And how came you by all these tastes? Mr. and Mrs. Dallas do not share them, I think.'
'No. Impossible to say. Inherited from some forgotten ancestor, perhaps.'
'Were there ever any Independents or Puritans among your ancestors?'
'No!' said Pitt, with a laughing look at her. 'The record is clean, I believe, on both sides of the house. My mother has not that on her conscience.'
'But you sympathize with such supposititious ancestors?'
'Why do you say so?'
'Mr. Pitt,' said Betty, sitting down and folding her hands seriously in her lap, 'I wish you would let me ask you one thing.'
'Ask it certainly,' said he.
'But it is really not my business; only, I am puzzled, and interested, and do not know what to think. You will not be displeased?'