No questions of his should have drawn from me such an assertion.

But I was so young and inexperienced, and I had been goaded almost to madness by her stinging rebukes.

It was natural that I should wish to vindicate myself from the charge of rudeness her misrepresentations would bring against me.
"'I find you in sadness and tears,' said he, in a low, gentle tone; so low it scarcely rose above the murmuring waves.

'They should not be the companions of beauty and youth.

Let me be your friend,--let me teach you how to banish them.' "'No, no,' I cried, frightened at my own boldness in continuing the conversation so long.