'At least I suppose so--though I only speak from inference!' 'But she is your wife, sir,' said the young girl tremulously.
The unwonted tones of a man's voice in that feminine chamber had startled a canary that was roosting in its cage by the window; the bird awoke hastily, and fluttered against the bars.

She went and stilled it by laying her face against the cage and murmuring a coaxing sound.

It might partly have been done to still herself.
'I didn't come to talk of Mrs.Barnet,' he pursued; 'I came to talk of you, of yourself alone; to inquire how you are getting on since your great loss.' And he turned towards the portrait of her father.
'I am getting on fairly well, thank you.' The force of her utterance was scarcely borne out by her look; but Barnet courteously reproached himself for not having guessed a thing so natural; and to dissipate all embarrassment, added, as he bent over the table, 'What were you doing when I came ?--painting flowers, and by candlelight ?' 'O no,' she said, 'not painting them--only sketching the outlines.

I do that at night to save time--I have to get three dozen done by the end of the month.' Barnet looked as if he regretted it deeply.

'You will wear your poor eyes out,' he said, with more sentiment than he had hitherto shown.