For now," sobbed Matilda, "for now it's all off--and my heart is broke!" "All off?
Why ?" breathed Mrs.De Peyster.
"That's what I can't understand, ma'am," wailed Matilda.

"It's all a mystery to me.

I've hardly seen William, and haven't spoken to him, since we came back, and he's acted awfully queer to me.

I--I couldn't stand it any longer, and this evening I went out to the stable to see him.

He was as stiff, and as polite, and as mad as--oh, William was never like that to me before, ma'am! I asked him what was the matter.
'All right, if you want to break off, I'm willing!' he said in, oh, such a hard voice.