will not meet you; I have too much respect for myself, and too little
for you," and she was gone.

Philip's face, as he stood looking after her, was not pleasant to see;
it was very hard and angry.

"Jealous, is she? I will give her something to be jealous for, the
proud minx;" and in his vexation he knocked off the head of a
carnation with his stick.

"Philip, what _are_ you doing? Those are my pet Australian carnations;
at least, I think they are Australian. How can you destroy them like
that?"

"All right, Maria; I was only plucking one for you. Won't you put it
in your dress? Where are the others?"

"They have all gone. Come in, it is so hot out there; and tell me what
you think of Mrs. Bellamy."

"I think that she is very handsome and very clever. I wonder where
Bellamy picked her up."

"I don't know; I wish he hadn't picked her up at all. I don't like
her, she says unpleasant things; and, though I have only seen her
three times, she seems to know all about me and everybody else. I am
not very quick; but do you know just now I thought that she was
insinuating that you were in love with Hilda; that's not true, is it,
Philip? Don't think me forward if I ask you if that is true, and if I
say that, if it is, it is better that I should know it. I sha'n't be