"Don't tell me the whole thing wasn't arranged beforehand; for I know it was!" she almost screamed.

"And think," she added, "of the heartlessness of the wretch, leaving his own child alone here in that way." "It's a blank shame!" stammered the colonel, without the least idea of what he was talking about.

In fact, utterly unable as he was to comprehend a reason for the woman's excitement, with his estimate of her character, I fear he showed it more plainly than he intended.

He stammered, expanded his chest, looked stern, gallant, tender, but all unintelligently.

Mrs.Tretherick, for an instant, experienced a sickening doubt of the existence of natures in perfect affinity.
"It's of no use," said Mrs.Tretherick with sudden vehemence, in answer to some inaudible remark of the colonel's, and withdrawing her hand from the fervent grasp of that ardent and sympathetic man.