"It is I who am the intruder," said he.

"Mesdemoiselles, conceive, if you can, my pride and my disappointment." He then bowed low; they courtesied low to him in return; and he retired slowly in a state of mixed feeling indescribable.
With all their sweetness and graciousness, he felt overpowered by their high breeding, their reserve, and their composure, in a situation that had set his heart beating itself nearly out of his bosom.

He acted the scene over again, only much more adroitly, and concocted speeches for past use, and was very hot and very cold by turns.
I wish he could have heard what passed between the sisters as soon as ever he was out of earshot.

It would have opened his eyes, and given him a little peep into what certain writers call "the sex." "Poor boy," murmured Josephine, "he has gone away unhappy." "Oh, I dare say he hasn't gone far," replied Rose, gayly.

"I shouldn't if I was a boy." Josephine held up her finger like an elder sister; then went on to say she really hardly knew why she had dismissed him.
"Well, dear," said Rose, dryly, "since you admit so much, I must say I couldn't help thinking--while you were doing it--we were letting 'the poor boy' off ridiculously cheap." "At least I did my duty ?" suggested Josephine, inquiringly.
"Magnificently; you overawed even me.