"I set the case of young Mr.Cameron before my uncle, and of course he at once saw that the only thing to do was withdraw the prosecution." Mr.Rae stood gazing steadily at her as if striving to take in the meaning of her words, the while screwing up his ear most violently till it stuck out like a horn upon the side of his shiny, bald head.

"Permit me to say, Miss Brodie," he said, with a deliberate and measured emphasis, "that you must be a most extraordinary young lady." At this point Mr.Rae's smile broke forth in all its glory.
"Oh, thank you, Mr.Rae," replied Miss Brodie, smiling responsively at him.

"You are most--" But Mr.Rae's smile had vanished.

"What! I beg your pardon!" Miss Brodie's smiling response was abruptly arrested by finding herself gazing at a face whose grave solemnity rebuked her smile as unwarranted levity.
"Not at all, not at all!" said Mr.Rae.

"But now, there are matters demanding immediate action.