"Not till you have permitted me to expiate my fault," said Mr.
Thorn, laughing.
"It cannot be expiated! My worth will be known at some future day. Mr. Carleton, will you have the goodness to summon our domestic attendant?"
"If you will permit me to give the order," he said, smiling, with his hand on the bell. "I am afraid you are hardly fit to be trusted alone."
"Why?"
"May I delay obeying you long enough to give my reasons?"
"Yes."
"Because," said he, coming up to her, "when people turn away from the world in disgust, they generally find worse company in themselves."
"Mr. Carleton! I would not sit still another minute, if curiosity didn't keep me. I thought solitude was said to be such a corrector!"
"Like a clear atmosphere an excellent medium if your object is to take an observation of your position; worse than lost if you mean to shut up the windows and burn sickly lights of your own."
"Then, according to that, one shouldn't seek solitude unless one doesn't want it."