But Sophie's sense of fitness and propriety was as sound and impenetrable as adamant, and scarcely to be affected by any human will or consideration.

She felt there was something not quite right in his manner and in the nature of his demand; and, being in the habit of making people conform to her ideas, rather than the reverse, she at once determined to correct him.
"If there's any thing you wish me to read to you, I'll do it.

I didn't come to sit down and talk to you; but, if you like my voice, you can have more pleasure from it in that way." "It would be no use for you to read: I couldn't understand--I couldn't attend to your voice and the book at the same time." "We'd better wait, then," said Sophie, turning her clear, gray eyes upon him with an expression of demure satire.

"By-and-by, perhaps, it won't have such a distracting effect upon you--when you come to know me better.

If not, I must keep away altogether." Bressant's forehead grew red with sudden temper.