"You are satisfied with them," said the gentleman, "and willing they should stand alone?"
"I am willing they should take their chance, sir."
"I know no one who can better say that," remarked Rufus.
"With better confidence, or better grounds do you mean?"
"I hope you do not need to be told!" said Rufus, his eye sparkling half with fun and half with admiration at the face and manner with which Elizabeth turned upon him.
"Which leaves the lady at liberty to suppose what she pleases," said the first speaker.
"It leaves her at liberty to suppose nothing of the kind!"
Rufus rejoined, with a little dilating of the nostril.
"Nothing can constrain my liberty in that respect," said the lady in question.
"Except your knowledge of human nature?" said Rufus.
"I have no hindrance in that," said Elizabeth.