“What do you mean. Mrs. Delaney? Why is it a pity that I hadn't gone months ago?”

“Oh! that's enough for me to know. I have my reasons.”

“But, will you not suffer me to know them? I am conscious of no evil that has arisen from my not going sooner.”

“Indeed! Well, if you are not, I can only say you're not so keen-sighted a lawyer as I thought you were. That's all.”

“If you think I would have made out better, got more practice, and made more money in Alabama, that, I must tell you, has been long since my own opinion.”

“No! I don't mean that—it has no regard to business and money-making—what I mean.”

“Ah! what can it have regard to? You make me curious, Mrs. Delaney.”

“Well, that may be; but I'm not going to satisfy your curiosity. I thought you had seen enough for yourself. I'm sure you're the only one that has not seen.”

“Upon my soul, Mrs. Delaney, you are quite a mystery.”

“Oh! am I?”