“No, sir,” she replied timidly.

“No,” said the gentleman, nursing his left leg; “I don’t know how you should. You know my name, though, ma’am.”

“Do I?” said Arabella, trembling, though she scarcely knew why. “May I ask what it is?”

“Presently, ma’am, presently,” said the stranger, not having yet removed his eyes from her countenance. “You have been recently married, ma’am?”

“I have,” replied Arabella, in a scarcely audible tone, laying aside her work, and becoming greatly agitated as a thought, that had occurred to her before, struck more forcibly upon her mind.

“Without having represented to your husband the propriety of first consulting his father, on whom he is dependent, I think?” said the stranger.

Arabella applied her handkerchief to her eyes.