I care as little about her as you do.

But I thought of having a walk in the evening.' Nancy phrased it thus with intention.

She wished to intimate that, at her age, it could hardly be necessary to ask permission.

But her father looked surprised.
'In the evening?
Where ?' 'Oh, about the main streets--to see the people and the illuminations.' Her voice was not quite firm.
'But,' said her father, 'there'll be such a swarm of blackguards as never was known.

How can you go into such a crowd?
It's astonishing that you should think of it.' 'The blackguards will be outnumbered by the decent people, father.' 'You suppose that's possible ?' he returned gloomily.
'Oh, I think so,' Nancy laughed.