As, however, she kept her own counsel, Mrs.Ascott could only guess in the matter.

From her feverish interest in Dacrefield, her ill-concealed excitement when the visit was proposed, the improvement in her health since she came, and a multitude of other small facts which my aunt had ferreted out and patched together with an ingenuity that amazed me, Maria was supposed to care for me.
"We were a good deal together in town, sir," said I, "and Maria was very jolly with me.

But I am sure I gave her no reason to think I was in love with her, and I don't believe she cares for me.

It's one of my aunt's mare's nests, depend upon it.

The poor girl has got a horrid cough, and, of course, she was pleased to get out of London smoke." "If you did care for her," said my father; "and, above all, if you had led her to think you did, the course is obvious, and I have no doubt she would make an excellent wife.