"Oh, perfectly—perfectly!" She hastily interrupted. "I wouldn't have it otherwise. Of course," she added, "it wasn't very pleasant having some one else suggest what I ought to have thought of myself, and seem more delicate about you than I was."
"Some one else?"
"You know! Mrs. Bowen."
"Oh! But I couldn't see that she was anxious to spare me. It occurred to me that she was concerned about your family."
"It led up to the other! it's all the same thing."
"Well, even in that case, I don't see why you should mind it. It was certainly very friendly of her, and I know that she has your interest at heart entirely."
"Yes; she knows how to make it seem so."
"Imogene!" he cried at last, "I don't understand this. Don't you think Mrs. Bowen likes you?"
"She detests me."
"Oh, no, no, no! That's too cruel an error. You mustn't think that. I can't let you. It's morbid. I'm sure that she's devotedly kind and good to you."