Her first words told him that his motive was as plainly revealed to her as the sunlight shining in at the window.
"That's a charming girl," she said, when Carmina closed the door behind her.

"Modest and natural--quite the sort of girl, Ovid, to attract a clever man like you." Ovid was completely taken by surprise, and owned it by his silence.

Mrs.
Gallilee went on in a tone of innocent maternal pleasantry.
"You know you began young," she said; "your first love was that poor little wizen girl of Lady Northlake's who died.

Child's play, you will tell me, and nothing more.

But, my dear, I am afraid I shall require some persuasion, before I quite sympathize with this new--what shall I call it ?--infatuation is too hard a word, and 'fancy' means nothing.