I've known the child since she was born.

As good a little girl as you could wish to meet." He drew himself up.

"That's the opinion of her I am endeavouring to express." "Quite so.

You win a good decent girl's affection,--if you hadn't, she would never have let you walk about with her at nightfall, with your arm round her waist,--and you have the cynical audacity to say that she's only a symbol." "When you asked me to come in this evening," said he, "I naturally concluded you would broach this subject.

I came prepared to give you a complete explanation of what I am ready to admit was a compromising situation." "There is only one explanation," said I angrily.