How can two walk together
unless they are agreed?"
"Thank you for saying this," he returned gratefully; "I am sure you
mean what you say."
"Most certainly I do."
"I know it--I am sure of it; you are not one of those people who are
afraid to speak the truth. Forgive me if I seemed put out for a
moment, but something in your manner made me think that you
disapproved of the step I had taken."
"Mr. Herrick, I disapprove--a mere acquaintance who has not even
seen your mother!"
"Ah, it is you who misunderstand now," in a reproachful voice. "Even
a mere acquaintance," dwelling on the word rather pointedly, "can
judge pretty correctly of a man's circumstances. I thought you were
saying to yourself, 'Mr. Herrick must be a selfish sort of man; he
is the only son of a widowed mother, and he has left her roof
because her charitable works bore him to extinction.'"
"No--oh, no!" in a shocked voice. "How can you say such dreadful
things? I shall begin to be afraid of you; and I have never been
afraid of man, woman, or child in my life. Shall I tell you of what
I was really thinking when you turned on me in that crushing manner?
I was thinking of that poor dear girl, and how dull and moped she
must be.
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