But John was thinking in a very different train of thought.
"Why is it strange ?" she asked.
"Oh, I hardly know," said John in considerable embarrassment.

"I was only thinking--about you--that is, about it all." The answer did not tend to quiet Mrs.Goddard's apprehensions.
"About me ?" she exclaimed.

"Why should you think about me ?" "It was very foolish, of course," said John.

"Only, when I caught sight of you that day I was very much struck.

You know, I was only a boy, then.
I hoped you would come back--but you did not." He blushed violently, and then glanced at his companion to see whether she had noticed it.
"No," she said, "I did not come back for some time." "And then I was gone.