I asked him the other night what ailed him.

Are you cold, Miss Hamilton?
I thought you shivered just now.' 'No, no,' she returned, a little impatiently: 'you were speaking of your uncle.' 'Yes.

I could not get him to tell me what was the matter; he began to joke: you know his way; men are so tiresome sometimes.' 'It is not always easy to understand them,' she said, turning away her face: 'perhaps they do not wish to be understood.

It must be a great comfort to Mr.Cunliffe to have you so near him.

I have thought lately that he has seemed a little lonely.' 'But he comes here very often,' I said, rather quickly; 'he need not be dull, with so many friends.' To my surprise, Miss Hamilton's fair face flushed almost painfully.
'He does not come so often as he used; perhaps he finds us a little too quiet.