"I am not at all accustomed to having public restitution made me in this manner, and especially for purely imaginary slights.

But may I not be permitted now--as a sort of reward if you will--to inquire if you have quite recovered ?" "At least I have sufficiently recovered to retract my disbelief in kitchen soap, and--and in your skill," she added, with a little visible effort.
"You honor us above our deserts,--the soap and me," answered Denham, playfully.

"I don't know how deleteriously it may affect the soap, but as for me I feel myself growing alarmingly conceited.

So good-night." "What a very elaborate apology," said De Forest, as Denham went out.

"If the offence were at all proportionate, I tremble to think of the enormity of your crime; or is it because he is a Reverend, that you demean yourself so humbly before him ?" Halloway was still hunting for his hat in the hall, and could scarcely help overhearing De Forest's remark and Gerald's answer.
"I demean myself before nobody in seeking to make amends for a previous neglect.