She shook her head and put her finger on her eyelid to make me understand that she did not like the color of his eyes.
"Cassandra is afraid of neither," he said.
"Why should I be ?" I replied coldly.
We were soon at the Bancrofts', where Helen lived, which was a mile from the Academy, and half a mile from our house.

When we were going home, he asked: "Is she your intimate friend ?" "The most in school." "Is there the usual nonsense about her ?" "What do you mean by nonsense ?" "When a girl talks about her lover or proposes one to her friend." "I think she is not gifted that way." "Then I like her." "Why should she not talk about lovers, though?
The next time I see her I will bring up the subject." "You shall think and talk of your lessons, and nothing more, I charge you.

Go on, Nell," he said, in a loud voice, turning into the yard and grazing one of the gate-posts, so that we struck together.

I was vexed, thinking it was done purposely, and brushed my shoulder where he came in contact, as if dust had fallen on me, and jumped out without looking at him, and ran into the house.
"Are you losing your skill in driving, Charles ?" Alice asked, when we were at tea, "or is Nell too much for you?
I saw you crash against the gate-post." "Did you?
My hand was not steady, and we made a lurch." "Was there a fight at the mills last night?
Jesse said so." "Jesse must mind his business." "He told Phoebe about it." "I knocked one of the clerks over and sprained my wrist." I met his eye then.

"It was your right hand ?" I asked.
"It was my right hand," in a deferential tone, and with a slight bow in my direction.
"Was it Parker ?" she asked.
"Yes, he is a puppy; but don't talk about it." Nothing more was said, even by Edward, who observed his father with childish gravity, I meditated on the injustice I had done him about the gate-post.