And then, dear, it was all your good-nature, you did not know what you were doing; you seemed to find some little pleasure in my society--even chose it by preference now and then.

My talk did not weary you, as I should have thought it would have done, and so I grew to think--to think--Bah!" (with a movement of impatience) "it was a foolish thought! what can there be in common between me and a child like you ?" "I think that there is a great deal," reply I, speaking very steadily, and so saying, I stretch out my hand and of my own accord put it in his again.

He cannot well return it to me, so he keeps it.
"And yet it is impossible ?" he says, with hesitating interrogation, while his steel-blue eyes look anxiously into mine.
"Is it ?" say I, a wily smile beginning to creep over my features.

"If it is, what was the use of asking me ?" I have the grace to grow extremely red as I make this observation.
"Nancy!" seizing my other hand, too, and speaking in a hurried, low voice that slightly shakes with the force of his emotion, "what are you saying?
You do not know what you are implying." "Yes I do," reply I, firmly.

"I know perfectly.