She made him sit down by her in March's chair, and before he left them March heard him magnanimously asking whether Mr.Kendricks was going to do something more for the magazine soon.

He sauntered away and did not know how quickly Burnamy left this question to say, with the laugh and blush which became him in her eyes: "Mrs.March, there is something I should like to tell you about, if you will let me." "Why, certainly, Mr.Burnamy," she began, but she saw that he did not wish her to continue.
"Because," he went on, "it's a little matter that I shouldn't like to go wrong in." He told her of his having overheard what Miss Triscoe had said to her father, and his belief that she was talking about the lower berth.

He said he would have wished to offer it, of course, but now he was afraid they might think he had overheard them and felt obliged to do it.
"I see," said Mrs.March, and she added, thoughtfully, "She looks like rather a proud girl." "Yes," the young fellow sighed.
"She is very charming," she continued, thoughtfully, but not so judicially.
"Well," Burnamy owned, "that is certainly one of the complications," and they laughed together.
She stopped herself after saying, "I see what you mean," and suggested, "I think I should be guided by circumstances.

It needn't be done at once, I suppose." "Well," Burnamy began, and then he broke out, with a laugh of embarrassment, "I've done it already." "Oh! Then it wasn't my advice, exactly, that you wanted." "No!" "And how did he take it ?" "He said he should be glad to make the exchange if I really didn't mind." Burnamy had risen restlessly, and she did not ask him to stay.
She merely said: "Oh, well, I'm glad it turned out so nicely." "I'm so glad you think it was the thing to do." He managed to laugh again, but he could not hide from her that he was not feeling altogether satisfied.

"Would you like me to send Mr.March, if I see him ?" he asked, as if he did not know on what other terms to get away.
"Do, please!" she entreated, and it seemed to her that he had hardly left her when her husband came up.