Come, Lucy, speak and tell me." "You would laugh-- ?" "If you don't tell me you shall have no more letters." "You are laughing now." "I will again take away that single epistle: being mine, I think I have a right to reclaim it." I felt raillery in his words: it made me grave and quiet; but I folded up the letter and covered it from sight.
"You may hide it, but I can possess it any moment I choose.

You don't know my skill in sleight of hand; I might practise as a conjuror if I liked.

Mamma says sometimes, too, that I have a harmonizing property of tongue and eye; but you never saw that in me--did you, Lucy ?" "Indeed--indeed--when you were a mere boy I used to see both: far more then than now--for now you are strong, and strength dispenses with subtlety.

But still,--Dr.John, you have what they call in this country 'un air fin,' that nobody can, mistake.

Madame Beck saw it, and---" "And liked it," said he, laughing, "because she has it herself.