Ask him how much change he had of me when he came back." "I did not know he had seen you again," said I, still redder.

And saw that she believed me not.
"Birds sing; men lie," said she.

"So if----" "Be silent! Do you hear!" I cut her short with such contempt that I saw the painful colour whip her cheeks and her eyes quiver.
Small doubt that what she had learned of men had not sweetened her nor taught her confidence.

But whatever she had been, and whatever she was, after all concerned not me that I should take pains to silence her so brutally.
"I am sorry I spoke as I did," said I, "-- however mistaken you are concerning my seeking you here." She said nothing.
"Also," I added, with a sudden resurgance of bitterness that surprised myself, "my conduct earlier in your behalf might have led you to a wiser judgment." "I am wise enough--after my own fashion," she said indifferently.
"Does a man save and then return to destroy ?" "Many a hunter has saved many a spotted fawn from wolf and fox--so he might kill it himself, one day." "You do yourself much flattery, young woman," I said, so unpleasantly that again the hot colour touched her throat and brow.
"I reason as I have been taught," she said defiantly.

"Doubtless you are self-instructed." "No; men have taught me.