She loves to go into the kitchen and mess, she hates to study, and said right before the Vincents that she should think it would be great fun to be a beggar-girl, to go round with a basket, it must be so interesting to see what you 'd get." "Minnie said the other day she wished she was a pigeon so she could paddle in the puddles and not fuss about rubbers." "By the way, when is her uncle coming back ?" asked Fanny, who could n't wait any longer and joyfully seized the opening Polly made for her.
"I 'm sure I don't know." "Nor care, I suppose, you hard-hearted thing." "Why, Fan, what do you mean ?" "I 'm not blind, my dear, neither is Tom, and when a young gentleman cuts a call abruptly short, and races after a young lady, and is seen holding her hand at the quietest corner of the park, and then goes travelling all of a sudden, we know what it means if you don't." "Who got up that nice idea, I should like to know ?" demanded Polly, as Fanny stopped for breath.
"Now don't be affected, Polly, but just tell me, like a dear, has n't he proposed ?" "No, he has n't." "Don't you think he means to ?" "I don't think he 'll ever say a word to me." "Well, I am surprised!" And Fanny drew a long breath, as if a load was off her mind.

Then she added in a changed tone: "But don't you love him, Polly ?" "No." "Truly ?" "Truly, Fan." Neither spoke for a minute, but the heart of one of them beat joyfully and the dusk hid a very happy face.
"Don't you think he cared for you, dear ?" asked Fanny, presently.

"I don't mean to be prying, but I really thought he did." "That 's not for me to say, but if it is so, it 's only a passing fancy and he 'll soon get over it." "Do tell me all about it; I 'm so interested, and I know something has happened, I hear it in your voice, for I can't see your face." "Do you remember the talk we once had after reading one of Miss Edgeworth's stories about not letting one's lovers come to a declaration if one did n't love them ?" "Yes." "And you girls said it was n't proper, and I said it was honest, anyway.
Well, I always meant to try it if I got a chance, and I have.

Mind you, I don't say Mr.Sydney loved me, for he never said so, and never will, now, but I did fancy he rather liked me and might do more if I did n't show him that it was of no use." "And you did ?" cried Fanny, much excited.
"I just gave him a hint and he took it.

He meant to go away before that, so don't think his heart is broken, or mind what silly tattlers say.
I did n't like his meeting me so much and told him so by going another way.