'No one, I assure you,' replied Hiram.
'Then why did you decline the introduction? It is of no use to deny it; I know you did decline it.'
'I heard you were an heiress,' replied Hiram naively, 'and I don't like heiresses.'
'Why not, pray?'
'Oh, for various reasons. They are always such vain, stuck-up creatures. Then they are excessively requiring, and generally disagreeable.'
'You saucy thing, you,' exclaimed Miss Thorne, but by no means in a displeased tone.
'Then why did you ask me? I must tell the truth. I confess I did not want to make your acquaintance. Everybody was talking about Miss Thorne—Miss Thorne—Miss Thorne. For my part, it made me detest you.'
'Oh, you horrible creature,' said Arabella, now quite appeased.
'I don't deny it,' continued Hiram, pleasantly. 'I repeat, I can't bear an heiress. I wouldn't marry one for the whole world.'
'Why, pray?'