I am not a criminal.

Still you could have made me feel like one, last night, and heaps of men would have done so, either for the fun of it or from want of tact." I looked inquiringly at Mrs.Lascelles.She could tell me what she pleased, but I was not going to anticipate her by displaying an independent knowledge of matters which she might still care to keep to herself.

If she chose to open up a painful subject, well, the pain be upon her own head.

Yet I must say that there was very little of it in her face as our eyes met.

There was the eager candour that one could not help admiring, with the glowing look of gratitude which I had done so ridiculously little to earn; but the fine flushed face betrayed neither pain, nor shame, nor the affectation of one or the other.