She feared to trust her voice, lest more should be betrayed than she wished any one to know.

Seeing how much his presence disturbed her, Mr.Allison stepped back a pace or two, saying, as he did so, "I was only passing, my child; and will keep on my way.

I regret having startled you by my sudden appearance." He was about retiring, when Fanny, who felt that her manner must strike Mr.Allison as very singular, made a more earnest effort to regain her self-possession, and said, with a forced smile: "Don't speak of intrusion; Mr.Allison.Your sudden coming did startle me.

But that is past." Mr.Allison, who had partly turned away, now advanced toward Fanny, and, taking her hand, looked down into her face, from which the crimson flush had not yet retired, with an expression of tender regard.
"Your father is still absent, I believe ?" said he.
"Yes, sir." "He will be home soon." "We hope so.

His visit to New York was unexpected." "And you therefore feel his absence the more." "Oh, yes," replied Fanny, now regaining her usual tone of voice and easy address; "and it seems impossible for us to be reconciled to the fact." "Few men are at home more than your father," remarked Mr.Allison.
"His world, it might be said, is included in the circle of his beloved ones." "And I hope it will always be so." Mr.Allison looked more earnestly into the young maiden's face.