He perceived now that she required nothing more than the restoration of her personal pride, and setting bright eyes on her, hazarded a bold compliment.
Dahlia drooped like a yacht with idle sails struck by a sudden blast, that dips them in the salt; but she raised her face with the full bloom of a blush: and all was plain sailing afterward.
"Has my darling seen her sister ?" he asked softly.
Dahlia answered, "No," in the same tone.
Both looked away.
"She won't leave town without seeing you ?" "I hope--I don't know.

She--she has called at our last lodgings twice." "Alone ?" "Yes; I think so." Dahlia kept her head down, replying; and his observation of her wavered uneasily.
"Why not write to her, then ?" "She will bring father." The sob thickened in her throat; but, alas for him who had at first, while she was on the sofa, affected to try all measures to revive her, that I must declare him to know well how certain was his mastery over her, when his manner was thoroughly kind.

He had not much fear of her relapsing at present.
"You can't see your father ?" "No." "But, do.

It's best." "I can't." "Why not ?" "Not--" she hesitated, and clasped her hands in her lap.
"Yes, yes; I know," said he; "but still! You could surely see him.

You rouse suspicions that need not exist.