He had come to thank her--to say how much better he was--how sorry that he should have been so disgraced as to have been fighting almost before her very eyes.
"I suppose I was very foolish and furious," said he.

"Abel ran against me, and I got very angry and struck him.

It was wrong; I know it was, and I am very sorry.

But, ma'am, I hope you won't--ch--ch--I mean, won't--" That unlucky "ma'am" had choked all his other words.

Hope was so lofty and splendid in his eyes as she stood before him that he was impressed with a kind of awe.