Penelope resented my merriment, in rather a strange way.

"I never knew you cruel before, father," she said, very gently, and went out.
My girl's words fell upon me like a splash of cold water.

I was savage with myself, for feeling uneasy in myself the moment she had spoken them--but so it was.

We will change the subject, if you please.

I am sorry I drifted into writing about it; and not without reason, as you will see when we have gone on together a little longer.
The evening came, and the dressing-bell for dinner rang, before Mr.
Franklin returned from Frizinghall.