"I don't think Benjulia a fit person," he said, "to be in the company of a young girl." Mrs.Gallilee accepted this expression of opinion with a readiness, which would have told a more suspicious man that he had made a mistake.
Ovid had roused the curiosity--perhaps awakened the distrust--of his clever mother.
"You know best," Mrs.Gallilee replied; "I will bear in mind what you say." She rang the bell for Carmina, and left the room.

Ovid found the minutes passing slowly, for the first time since the day had been fixed for his departure.

He attributed this impression to his natural impatience for the appearance of his cousin--until the plain evidence of the clock pointed to a delay of five endless minutes, and more.

As he approached the door to make inquiries, it opened at last.

Hurrying to meet Carmina, he found himself face to face with Miss Minerva! She came in hastily, and held out her hand without looking at him.
"Forgive me for intruding on you," she said, with a rapidity of utterance and a timidity of manner strangely unlike herself.