I will hear you out.' And then, seeing him stand before her with so much obvious disrelish to the task, she was suddenly overcome with laughter.

Julia's laugh was a thing to ravish lovers; she rolled her mirthful descant with the freedom and the melody of a blackbird's song upon the river, and repeated by the echoes of the farther bank.

It seemed a thing in its own place and a sound native to the open air.

There was only one creature who heard it without joy, and that was her unfortunate admirer.
'Miss Hazeltine,' he said, in a voice that tottered with annoyance, 'I speak as your sincere well-wisher, but this can only be called levity.' Julia made great eyes at him.
'I can't withdraw the word,' he said: 'already the freedom with which I heard you hobnobbing with a boatman gave me exquisite pain.

Then there was a want of reserve about Jimson--' 'But Jimson appears to be yourself,' objected Julia.
'I am far from denying that,' cried the barrister, 'but you did not know it at the time.