“‘I have been brutal,’ I says, by-an’-by. ‘Forgive me.’
“‘Mr. Potter,’ she says, ‘you’ve done me a great kindness. I’ll never forget it. What shall I do?’
“‘Well, for one thing,’ says I, ‘go back to your old simplicity an’ live within your means.’
“‘I’ll do it,’ she says; ‘but—I—I supposed my father was rich. Oh, I wish we could have had this talk before!’
“‘Did you know that Dan Pettigrew was in love with you?’ I put it straight from the shoulder. ‘He wouldn’t dare to tell ye, but you ought to know it. You are regarded as a kind of a queen here, an’ it’s customary for queens to be approached by ambassadors.’
“Her face lighted up.
“‘In love with me?’ she whispered. ‘Why, Mr. Potter, I never dreamed of such a thing. Are you sure? How do you know? I thought he felt above me.’
“‘An’ he thought you felt above him,’ I says.
“‘How absurd! how unfortunate!’ she whispered. ‘I couldn’t marry him now if he asked me. This thing has gone too far. I wouldn’t treat any man that way.’
“‘You are engaged to Alexander, are you?’ I says.