After sitting speechless for some moments, and feeling as if he had been dumb for as many minutes, he was seized by a horrible conviction that if he remained silent an instant longer, he would be driven to do or say something absurd.

So he did the latter at once by bursting out with the stupid question, "What are you working at ?" "A duster," she answered instantly--this time without looking up.
Now the said duster was of the finest cambric; so that Alec could not help seeing that she was making game of him.

This banished his shyness, and put him on his mettle.
"I see," he said, "when I ask questions, you--" "Tell lies," she interposed, without giving him time even to hesitate; adding, "Does your mother answer all your questions, Mr Forbes ?" "I believe she does--one way or other." "Then it is sometimes the other way?
Is she nice ?" "Who ?" returned Alec, surprised into doubt.
"Your mother." "She's the best woman in the world," he answered with vehemence, almost shocked at having to answer such a question.
"Oh! I beg your pardon," returned Kate, laughing; and the laugh curled her lip, revealing very pretty teeth, with a semi-transparent pearly-blue shadow in them.
"I am glad she is nice," she went on.

"I should like to know her.
Mothers are not _always_ nice.

I knew a girl at school whose mother wasn't nice at all." She did not laugh after this childish speech, but let her face settle into perfect stillness--sadness indeed, for a shadow came over the stillness.