Miss Hazeltine, I vow to you upon my knees I am not mad!' 'You are not!' she cried, panting.
'I know,' he said, 'that to a superficial eye my conduct may appear unconventional.' 'If you are not mad, it was no conduct at all,' cried the girl, with a flash of colour, 'and showed you did not care one penny for my feelings!' 'This is the very devil and all.

I know--I admit that,' cried Gideon, with a great effort of manly candour.
'It was abominable conduct!' said Julia, with energy.
'I know it must have shaken your esteem,' said the barrister.

'But, dearest Miss Hazeltine, I beg of you to hear me out; my behaviour, strange as it may seem, is not unsusceptible of explanation; and I positively cannot and will not consent to continue to try to exist without--without the esteem of one whom I admire--the moment is ill chosen, I am well aware of that; but I repeat the expression--one whom I admire.' A touch of amusement appeared on Miss Hazeltine's face.

'Very well,' said she, 'come out of this dreadfully cold place, and let us sit down on deck.' The barrister dolefully followed her.

'Now,' said she, making herself comfortable against the end of the house, 'go on.