When she held out the hand that had just touched her daughter to Mr.Engelman, it trembled as if she had been the most timid woman living.
"Good night, dear friend," she said to him; "I am sorry to have been the innocent cause of this little embarrassment." Simple Mr.Engelman put his handkerchief to his eyes; never, in all his life, had he been so puzzled, so frightened, and so distressed.

He kissed the widow's hand.

"Do let me see you safe home!" he said, in tones of the tenderest entreaty.
"Not to-night," she answered.

He attempted a faint remonstrance.

Madame Fontaine knew perfectly well how to assert her authority over him--she gave him another of those tender looks which had already become the charm of his life.