“You don’t tell me so, my dear!”

“Mis⁠—ter Roke⁠—smith, Pa,” said Bella separating the syllables for emphasis. “What do you say to that ?”

Pa answered quietly with the counter-question, “What did you say to that, my love?”

“I said No,” returned Bella sharply. “Of course.”

“Yes. Of course,” said her father, meditating.

“And I told him why I thought it a betrayal of trust on his part, and an affront to me,” said Bella.

“Yes. To be sure. I am astonished indeed. I wonder he committed himself without seeing more of his way first. Now I think of it, I suspect he always has admired you though, my dear.”