The child, loosened so suddenly from her arms, tottered and would have fallen, had not Mr.Steele leaned forward and drawn the little one across to himself.

Mr.Packard, who, we must remember, had been more or less prepared for what his secretary had to say, cast a glance at his wife, teeming with varied emotions.
"And what did you reply to that ?" were the words she hurled at the unabashed secretary.
"Nothing," was his grave reply.

"I did not know myself what was false in it." With sudden faltering, Mrs.Packard reseated herself, while the mayor, outraged by what was evidently a very unexpected answer, leaned forward in great anger, crying: "That was not the account you gave me of this wretched interview.
Explain yourself, Mr.Steele.

Don't you see that your silence at such a moment, to say nothing of the attitude you at present assume, is an insult to Mrs.Packard ?" The smile he met in reply was deprecatory enough; so were the words his outburst had called forth.
"I did not mean, and do not mean to insult Mrs.Packard.I am merely showing you how hampered a man is, whatever his feelings, when it comes to a question of facts known only to a lady with whom he has not exchanged fifty words since he came into her house.

If Mrs.Packard will be good enough to inform me just how much and how little is true in the paragraph we are considering, I shall see this rascally reporter again and give him a better answer." Mayor Packard looked unappeased.